A school-based supplementary food programme in rural Kenya did not reduce children's intake at home

Public Health Nutr. 2013 Apr;16(4):713-20. doi: 10.1017/S1368980012003266. Epub 2012 Jul 9.

Abstract

Objective: To examine changes in energy intake along with markers of dietary quality (animal-source energy and protein intakes) among household members in the presence of supplementary school feeding in rural Kenya.

Design: A 2-year, longitudinal, randomized controlled feeding intervention study.

Setting: Kyeni South Division, Embu District, Kenya.

Subjects: A total of 182 schoolchildren and selected household members.

Results: There was no evidence that schoolchildren who received supplementary snacks at school experienced reduced intakes at home or that intakes by other family members were increased at the expense of the schoolchild's intake.

Conclusions: This analysis highlights a number of factors useful in planning for supplementary feeding interventions in rural Kenya and similar communities.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diet
  • Energy Intake
  • Family Characteristics
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Food Services*
  • Humans
  • Kenya
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutritional Status
  • Rural Population*
  • Schools
  • Snacks
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires