Impact of school lunch programmes on nutritional status of children in Vihiga district, western Kenya

Abstract

Malnutrition exists in some form in every country. Protein Energy malnutrition is the commonest and the most devastating form of  malnutrition among children under five  years of age and school children. This suggests that interventions in the  school aged children can help reduce levels of malnutrition and its related effects on childrens’ health and education. School feeding  Programmes (SFP), which have been initiated in many countries including Kenya, have been shown to improve academic  performance and nutritional status in developing and industrialized countries.  However, the effects of School Lunch programmes  (SLP) in Vihiga District have not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of SLP in  improving the  nutritional status of school children in Emuhaya Division of Vihiga district, Kenya. The objectives of the study were: to compare  the nutritional status of participants (children who participate in the school lunch) and non-participants (children who do not  participate in the school lunch) and to assess the diet quality of the school and home lunch. It was hypothesized that the  nutritional status of participants was better than that of the nonparticipants. Three hundred and twenty pupils (index children) and their parents were randomly selected for the purpose of the study. Anthropometric measurements, 24-hour recall, interview  schedules and observed weighed technique were the instruments used in data collection. Using Statistics, frequencies, means,  correlations and multiple regressions were generated and used to analyze socio-economic data and effect of SLP on nutritional  status. Food composition tables and Epi Info version 6 were also employed to  analyze the diet quality of the school and home  lunch and anthropometric data  respectively. The results indicated a positive association between the school lunch and  nutritional status. The diet quality of the school lunch and nutritional status of participants were significantly higher than that of the non-participants. SLP had a positive significant effect on the nutritional status of participating children. More schools and parents in similar environments should therefore be encouraged to  venture into the SLP because of their positive outcome on nutritional status as well as the diet quality of participating children.

Key words: School Lunch Programmes, Nutritional status