Micronutrient bioavailability and deficiency in Kenyan dairy and animal food systems: a pilot study
Research project overview
Approximately 2/3 of the rural and urban Kenyan communities directly access the crops they grow and the animals they keep on locally available land for their livelihoods and survival. Food constituents that are crucial for physiological functions include vitamins and minerals, with deficiencies in such micronutrients often termed ‘hidden hunger.’
This study will assess the dynamics of micronutrient transfer through the food chain, involving previously collected data on soil, water, plants, animals and people. New data will also be collected on dietary composition, with particular focus on the link to dairy and meat products, including poultry, which are prominent and subsistence-bred in poor communities in Kenya.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey design will be used to collect data from primary sources. Structured food frequency questionnaires will be administered to the adult residents within the study area on dietary composition, socioeconomic and demographic factors.
300 food frequency questionnaires will be randomly administered to the residents of Kakamega, Uasin, Gishu and Kisumu Counties (100 questionnaires per county) and used for data analysis.
Potential impact
The study aims to build a tool that bridges existing knowledge and gaps, where individuals and institutions can gain new perspectives in trying to address malnutrition in Kenya, and potentially in other geographical contexts, in an integrated way.