Vitamin A Rich Foods Consumed For Dietary Intake and Supplementation Among Children Aged 12 To 59 Months in Gatunga Ward, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Abstract

Vitamin A food sources intake is one of the dietary interventions that support the achievement of nutrition priority outcomes. Inadequate Vitamin A intake leads to its deficiency which causes depressed immune response, impaired movement of iron, poor growth, night blindness and xerophthalmia which are a major public health concerns. The study objective was to establish Vitamin A rich foods consumed by children aged 12 to 59 months. The target population was 370 caregivers of children aged 12 to 59 months who were clustered and sampled using purposive cluster and random sampling. A cross sectional descriptive study design was used to guide this study. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews schedules from caregivers and key informants respectively. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 20 while qualitative data was organized and analysed thematically. The findings revealed that only 41.8% consumed more than five food groups and indicator of a children likelihood of suffering from Vitamin A deficiency due to limited dietary diversity. It also emerged that only 36 (9%) of the respondents could mention at least one type of foods rich in Vitamin A while only (23.5%) could mention at least one benefit of Vitamin A, an indicator of knowledge on Vitamin A-rich foods and their benefits was scanty. The study recommends that the government and stakeholders need to develop a policy of ensuring caregivers are adequately educated on Vitamin A-rich foods and their benefits. Interventions such as forming self-help groups which will provide platforms of starting of income generating activities such as investing in production of green vegetables, fruits and chicken to diversify on Vitamin A rich Vitamin A-rich foods.