In Kisumu County, the main determinants of malnutrition are high poverty rates with the urban poverty rate at 70%, coupled with increasing household food insecurity (KDHS 2014). The unemployment rate is more than 50% with a high dependency ratio at 87% (Labour Force Report, 2019) coupled with high HIV prevalence in the region, which creates a precarious scenario, predisposing the general population to both immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition (NACC, 2018). However, the county government demonstrates political commitment for preventing malnutrition by investing in the scale-up of low-cost high-impact nutrition interventions centering on the multi-sectoral approach to solve malnutrition. Tackling stunting, wasting, and hidden hunger is of paramount importance as it has far-reaching effects beyond health and nutrition, leading to poor cognition and socio-behavioral development, as well as affecting work productivity and the economic potential of an individual and society.
Published By:
USAID Advancing Nutrition
Publication Date:
Brief
Kenya
English