The Micronutrient Deficiency in Kenya - Report Example

TOPIC: MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY IN KENYA. INTRODUCTION Kenya is a developing country located at the East Africa. Kenya is dominated by a young and a rural population. It is estimated that about 80 per cent of Kenyan Hinterland area is arid and semi-arid, northern and eastern regions of the country forms the bulk of this areas. The percentage of good agricultural potential areas are represent by a mere 18 per cent of the territory which is expected to support 80 per cent of Kenyan population [i]. Kenya rarely carries out irrigation and it is therefore mainly rain fed. Agriculture remains the backbone of the Kenyan economy. The country has recurrent effects of floods, drought and degradation of the environment as a result of exploitation of the environmental and natural resources. In this paper I interrogate what are the nutrient deficiency facing children in this country. Proper nutrition is an essential right of every child in Kenya: well nourished children have characteristics of being more ,active and capable of learning well in schools thus leading to greater chance of realizing their dreams and achieving their potential. In Kenya, key issues affecting the nutrition sector are closely linked to- consistently high rates of malnutrition among children; declined breast feeding of the children, failure of good feeding methods with increased ignorance on the child care practices.; micronutrient malnutrition high rates have also been associated with impeding of the proper growth and development of children[ii]; Kenya also lack a legal framework and policy concerning nutrition interventions in the country; there is also weak capacity by the country to manage nutritional aspects and emergencies which would result in a healthy nation. Malnutrition is not a Kenyan problem but a worldwide socio- medical problem, however it is usually common and widespread in the developing countries and low in the developed countries. In Kenya, an estimated 50 per cent of the total population is made of children and women who are in their reproductive age and comprising the vulnerable groups. These categories of people is vulnerable because they have greater nutritional needs and have a high dependence ratio. When the vulnerability of women and children is combined with other socio-economic factors such as ,ignorance and diseases the situation becomes worse[iii]. A government hospitals survey in 1962 on the mortality of children less than 6 years, showed that malnutrition as was a major contributing factor to the deaths representing a percentage of 26 per cent of all the children who were admitted, subsequent surveys have also confirmed this report[iv]. The problem of malnutrition is not the only factor affecting the children. Several factors are very important and should also be taken into consideration before tackling the issue of the malnutrition which is affecting the Kenyan population. The government has continually strived to provide better housing, better health services, education, electricity and water since its independence in 1963. These objectives are only achievable where there is a healthy and well governed population. The estimates of infant mortality in Kenya tagged at 126 per thousand and the main cause of morbidity and mortality in order of rank are said to be the following [v]; 1. Pneumonia. 2. Gastroenteritis. 3. Tuberculosis. 4. Heart disease. 5. Nutritional deficiencies. 6. Measles. 7. Malaria. 8. Unknown or ill- defined. malnutrition is attributed to widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Although recent data are not available, there is likelihood that iodine deficiency is most prevalent. Vitamin A and iron deficiency are the most highly prevalent in Kenya. The implementation of iron and vitamin A supplementation to the children is very inadequate. The government has however set up school based programs to assist address the problem of nutrition deficiency among the Kenyan children[vi]. There is a great need for more long-term strategies, this may include fortification, nutritional education and dietary diversification. SUMMARY REPORT CHILDREN NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY PERCENTAGE YEAR Prevalence of goitre in school-age children Percentage of households consuming adequately iodized salt Prevalence of sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency in preschool children Prevalence of vitamin A supplementation in preschool children Prevalence of vitamin A supplementation in children. Prevalence of anemia in children Prevalence of iron supplementation in children. 16% 91% 84% 33% 14% 56% 41% 1994 2000 1999 2003 2003 1999 2003 Adopted Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Kenya Democratic and Health Survey; 2004 MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES a) Iodine Deficiency Disorders(IDD) The 1994 National Micronutrient Survey data is the only one available in Kenya. At that time, the report revealed that 16 per cent of children 8- 10 years had goiter. urinary iodine median level was 115µg/L [vii]. IDD from the standpoint of the report is an important health problem in Kenya and in light of recent and representative studies it is an issue that should be tackled promptly and adequately. The main causes leading to iodine deficiency include failure or minimal consumption of food rich in iodine and consumption of diets containing goitrogens. The first IDD legislation in Kenya legislated in 1978 and some revisions made in 1988. In 1987 the Kenyan government established a National Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. An important point is that the country is a leading producer of iodized salt in the region. Mombasa and Malindi are the main towns of production of iodized salt. The country needs to effectively control the iodized salt; there is also need for some data on urinary iodine and participation in regional and global discussions about how to harmonize the salt iodine levels. In 2000, greater improvement was seen with 91 per cent of the households testing and using adequately iodized salt of (greater than or equal to) 15ppm. The data revealed that rural households used higher iodized salt than in urban areas. Adequately iodized salt households were 80% in all the regions. The current Kenyan iodization level is100ppm as iodine, and remain the highest and of greatest concern in the world. [viii]. 2. Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) The country reveals a high prevalence of deficiency in the vitamin A. In 1999, 84% of the children who are below 6 years had low serum retinol nationally ( Read More