Prevalence and Severity of Malnutrition in Pre-School Children in a Rural Area of Western

Kenya
Introduction:
Researchers believe the lack of nutrition in pre-school children (less than 5 years in age),
especially those in developing countries such as Eastern Africa, is the main contributor to those
suffering from diseases such as severe anemia, malaria transmission and/or HIV (human
immunodeficiency virus). This idea sprouted from a global report conducted around the year
2000 that showed nearly one-third of these childrens growth to be stunted and to expect this
number to increase in the near future.1 Thus researchers traveled to Western Kenya and set up a
study site in Asembo, a district within, to further describe the local childrens nutritional status
and well-being.
Materials and Methods:
The researchers put together a series of three cross-sectional surveys throughout 60
villages while choosing children at random.2 The measurements performed in these surveys were
referenced to the standard procedures put in place by the World Health Organization.3 Children
less than six months were undressed and weighed to nearest 10 grams using a hanging scale that
was calibrated daily, while those of an older age were allowed to wear light clothes, such as
undergarments, being weighed to the nearest 100 grams also on a hanging scale.
In order to collect these childrens height, a wooden measuring board with either a sliding
foot or head piece was used, measuring to the nearest 0.1 cm.4 If the childrens height-for-age
(HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) or weight-for-height (WHZ) totaled up to be less than or equal to
a -2, based off of an age-adjusted mean score put together by the U.S. National Centers for
Health Statistics and World Health Organization, then the children were classified as either

stunted, underweight or wasting and possibly sent to the local hospital and/or a nutritional
feeding center, which was located within Asembo.
Results:
Of the 2,316 total children involved in the study, 29.5% showed an overall stunt in their
growth, 20.2% were underweight and the smallest percentage was considered to have severe
wasting (1%) with evidence of kwashiorkor (diets low in protein and calories) or marasmic
kwashiorkor (severe protein and calorie malnutrition).5 Prevalence of these numbers showed high
significance up until the age of 18 months, which then slowly decreases, but still comes below
par in comparison to the national average.
Discussion:
Among the selected children, 84% of those ranging in age from 3-24 months were
anemic, presenting a hemoglobin count of less than 11 (normal ranges are 13-18 grams per
deciliter) and of those children, 22% had moderately severe anemia with hemoglobin counts of
less than 7. 70% had traces of plasmodium falciparum which is a protozoan parasite responsible
for the most dangerous form of malaria and 5-9% were transmitted with HIV through birth.6
Consequently, malnutrition rates show a high interaction with those who have also
contracted an infectious disease, especially in children between the ages of 3 and 18 months.
Therefore, more nutritional counseling and education needs to be specifically focused on
improving the large groups at risk.

Bibliography
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