The Magnitude of Malnutrition

In fact, micronutrient deficiencies are widely prevalent in African countries. Twenty six percent of the children suffering from vitamin A deficiency (VAD) live in Africa, with the largest proportion in sub-Saharan Africa (6). According to the Kenya Ministry of Health (7), the prevalence of severe VAD is 14% and moderate VAD is 61% among children under 5. Other major micronutrient deficiencies in Africa include iodine deficiency disorder, iron deficiency anaemia and zinc deficiency, with high rates among young children. Approximately 25% of children are iodine deficient (8). Studies in Kenya show that 56% school age children are anaemic and especially girls. In some regions this is as high as 89.5% due to food insecurity and poverty (9,10,11). Half of the children under five years are zinc deficient (12,13,8). 

Micronutrient deficiencies may have adverse effects on children’s growth and development. However, also inadequate intake of energy and protein will impair physical growth, leading to thinness and stunting. The global prevalence of stunting - when a child is too short for his age - has decreased over the past decades, however, still 161 million children under the age of five years are stunted (14). The vast majority is living in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where 38% of the children under five years old are stunted (15). According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (16) 25% of the children under five are stunted in Kenya. Underweight - when a child’s weight is too small for their age - is at a national average of 11%. 

Next to undernutrition, the prevalence of overweight is also increasing in developing countries (17), including Kenya. However, this problem has not been addressed adequately by nutrition surveys in Kenya. Overweight in Children has not significantly change from 6% in 1993, 2003 (6%), 2008-09 (5%) and 2014 (4%) (16). The study indicates that in adult women there is an increasing trend of overweight and obese women at 25% in 2008-09 and 33% in 2014. These trends have been associated with a rise in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer (16). 

Good nutrition, an adequate well-balanced diet combined with regular physical activity, is the foundation of good health. Malnutrition can impair our daily health and wellbeing and reduce our ability to lead an enjoyable and active life. Moreover, both under and over nutrition may substantially impact long term health status and life expectancy.