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Background: Challenges facing Kenyan government include childhood underweight, overweight and micronutrient deficiencies. These forms of malnutrition have existed in several regions of the world with their consequences spreading to old age. A total of 11% of Kenyan children are underweight while 4% are overweight. Micronutrient deficiency affects 2 billion people worldwide with iron and Vitamin A Deficiency affecting 60% and 70% of children in Sub Saharan Africa respectively. Only 72% of Kenyan children consume diets rich in Vitamin A. This study assessed the status of underweight, overweight and micronutrient deficiency among children in Kisumu County, Kenya. Methods: Cross sectional study was used that recruited 384 children aged less than 2 years. Anthropometric measurements assessed nutritional status while food frequency questionnaire assessed nutrient intake of children. STATA V.14 analyzed data. Bivariate analysis linked outcome and independent variables while multinomial logistic regression assessed factors influencing malnutritional status of children. Results: A total of 23% of children were underweight while 30% were overweight. Only 10% consumed carbohydrate adequate diets while 31% consumed foods rich in iron. Mothers earning more than Ksh 3,000 had 60% higher risks of their children being underweight compared to those earning less than Ksh 2,999 per month while children living in permanent houses had 50% lower risks of being underweight compared to those living in temporary houses. Children aged between 19 and 24 months had 80% higher risks of being overweight compared to those aged below 6 months while those living in permanent houses had 40% lower risks of being overweight compared to those living in temporary houses. Those with inadequate carbohydrate and iron intake had 20% and 80% lower risks respectively of being overweight compared to those with adequate intake. Conclusion: In Kisumu county, 23% of children were underweight while 30% were overweight. Only 31% consumed diets rich in iron sources. Mothers’ income, type of housing and micronutrient intake were associated with nutritional status of children. Interventions and policies to target this early age as is window period of opportunity.

Background: Wasting accounts for 4.7% of all deaths of children under five years of age globally. Currently there is no standard for treatment of moderate wasting in children resulting in high variability of treatment methods and low predictability if recovery outcomes. Leucine, a branched chain amino acid,has recently received significant attention as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of numerous muscle wasting conditions. This is attributed to its ability to accelerate protein synthesis and reduces protein breakdown in the muscles.Objective: To establish if leucine could be used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of protein energy malnutrition.Study selection: Based on defined key words a search was carried out on Pubmed to retrieve all publications on leucine supplementation and muscle protein synthesis. Only studies that met the search criteria were retrieved and the required data obtained.Data synthesis: Eightunique studies obtained from 8 articles that met the study criteria were included. The publications were analysed to establish whether leucine supplementation had any effect on muscle protein synthesis and protein break down. Dosage levels used in the studies if available were also duly noted.Results: The articles reviewed indicated that leucine supplementation either led to enhanced pr otein synthesis or reduced muscle mass loss in both healthy participants and participants with wasting conditionsConclusion: Leucine supplementation is a safe and effective way to enhance muscle protein synthesis and reduce loss of lean mass in catabolic conditions. Given the low effectiveness of current therapeutic feeds used in the management of moderate malnutrition, leucine supplementation should be given significant consideration as a potential strategy for treating the condition.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kathonzweni division, Makueni district to assess and compare the nutritional status of children (6-59 months) drawn from households participating in a World Vision project vis-à-vis non-project area. The purpose of the study was to provide region specific data on the nutrition situation in the World Vision Project area and establish whether there is any significant difference from the non-operational area. A total of 320 households, of which 160 were from the World Vision project area each with at least a child aged between 6-59 months were randomly selected. In households with more than one child at this age category, only one child was selected. Structured questionnaires were administered to mothers or to alternative caretakers while anthropometric measurements were taken for all the children in the study households. Statistical package for Social Scientists (SPSS/PC+) computer package was used for data entry and analysis. Indices of nutritional status that is weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height were computed using the Epi-Info programme. The prevalence of stunting in the project area (46.5%) was slightly higher than among the non-project area (42.1%). A significant relationship was found between the children's age and their nutritional status based on the prevalence of wasting and ofunderweight (p

These success stories describe how two programs helped families to strengthen their health agricultural livelihoods and food security in Malawi. The programs helped households to grow more food guided farmers toward profitable business practices helped people to form savings groups taught families and young mothers about health and nutrition and increased access to HIV services and social welfare systems.

A survey was carried out to document the diversity and immune boosting claims of African indigenous leafy vegetables (AILVs) in Western Kenya. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used. The results showed that there is diversity of AILVs in the study area with nine popular and frequently consumed, but cassava leaves, stinging nettle and russian comfry are not popular. Seven of these are cultivated but two, stinging nettle (Urtica massaica) and vine spinach (Basella alba) grow wildly. The AILVs are cultivated at subsistence level on home gardens withminimal inputs and only excess of this is sold. The religion one belonged to was significant (p

Background. Female genital cutting (FGC) is practised throughout the world, and is common in many Asian and African countries. Although FGC in Ethiopia has decreased, the practice is still very widespread. Methods. A cross-sectional study design with an analytical component was used to study girls attending randomly sampled primary schools in Addis Ababa between August and June 2008. A total of 407 girls, selected from four primary schools, and their respective families were recruited. Data were collected through self-administered and open-ended questionnaires and analysed using bivariate and multivariate models. Results. In this group of schoolgirls, 26.0% had undergone FGC at a median age of 4 years. FGC had most commonly been performed at age 1 - 5 years, when 50.9% of the total group had been circumcised. Of the girls attending government schools, 36.6% had undergone FGC. The majority of the procedures had been performed by traditional circumcisers (62.3%), followed by health workers (22.6%). The decision to subject the girl to FGC was most frequently made by mothers (38.7% of the FGC group), the remainder of the decisions being made by fathers (24.5%), both parents (22.6%) and relatives (14.2%). There was a significantly higher prevalence of FGC among girls attending government schools, girls of Guraghe ethnicity, and girls whose mothers had no knowledge about the harm of FGC. A smaller proportion of girls living with both parents than of those living with relatives had undergone FGC. Conclusions. FGC is prevalent in primary schoolgirls in the capital city of Ethiopia, despite improved availability of health information. This situation underscores the need to reinforce the national law against FGC. Creation of awareness should be focused on parents of Guraghe ethnicity and on government schools. Parental education should be promoted, and mpowerment of women is required to fight FGC.

A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out to compare childcare practices and nutritional status of children aged 6–36 months in Mwembesongo and Mjimpya wards that had long and short experiences respectively with the Child Survival, Protection and Development (CSPD) programme. The purpose of the study was to establish whether the long-term implementation of the CSPD programme had an impact compared to that of a short-term programme. The findings showed that the children from Mwembesongo were exclusively breast-fed for a significantly longer period (50 days) than those in the Mjimpya ward (32 days) and that significantly more mothers (95.7%) in Mwembesongo than in Mjimpya (84.5%) attended growth monitoring programmes. On the other hand, significantly more mothers in Mjimpya (71.5%) compared to those in Mwembesongo (51.8%) breast-fed immediately (less than one hour) after birth. The study revealed that there was no significant difference in children's nutritional status (wasting and underweight) between the two wards, except for stunting. More children in Mwembesongo (39.7%) than in Mjimpya (27.5%) were stunted. The findings have demonstrated that financial capacity to support children's food and care requirements forms a springboard from which to launch additional efforts for improved nutritional status. SAJCN Vol. 21 (1) 2008: pp. 16-20