Feeding practices of children less than two years with stunting in urban and rural Turbo Sub-County, Uasin Gishu

Abstract

This study sought to find out feeding practices of children less than two years with stunting in urban and rural Turbo Sub-County, Uasin Gishu. Stunting is low height for age with poor brain and physical development. The study used a cross-sectional survey design. The data analysis was by SPSS for windows version 20. Mixed feeding was most practised at 43.5 per cent (n=27). Exclusive breastfeeding was at 40. Continued breastfeeding was at 67.3 per cent and 47.1 per cent at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Cereals, roots and tubers foods were eaten most in urban at 97.2 per cent/n=196 and in rural areas at 94.3 per cent/n=83. There were no differences in consumption of all food groups between urban and rural children except intake of vitamin A-rich foods with a significant difference χ² (p=0.001). The relationship between place of residence and dietary diversity score showed a significant relationship with a Chi-square value of (χ²13.467, p=0.004). In conclusion, infant and young child breastfeeding practices indicated exclusive breastfeeding was below the national average, and mixed feeding was the most practised mode of feeding in children below 6 months. This study recommends that the health ministry, in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture, should promote the growth of a variety of foods in rural areas and promote the use of home-grown foods for complementary feeding.