Nutritional profile of the population in a food-for-work project area: a case study from Samburu District, Kenya

Abstract

The nutrition status of Samburu tribesman of northern Kenya and the potential nutritional effects of a food-for-work programme were assessed by anthropometric and dietary surveys over a period of five weeks. The investigations were carried out at four input localities, where the programme had provided a daily average of 173 kcal and 5g protein per capita over the preceding year, and a fifth control area. Compared with Kenya as a whole, the Samburu community showed an unexpectedly high prevalence of wasting: 74% of the surveyed individuals were below 90% of the weight-for-height median, and 34% were below 80%. Relative wasting was especially prevalent among school-age children, of whom 86% were below 90% and 44% were below 80% of the standard, and among elders, with 88% and 64% below these thresholds respectively. Mid-upper arm circumferences were lowest among school-age children. In the input locations, both anthropometric and haematocrit values among the most vulnerable members of the communities were significantly higher than those for comparable groups in the control location. Overall the food-for-work programme was judged to be a worthwhile effort to help Samburus to be once again self-sufficient. -from Authors