HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN (0-59) MONTHS IN HOUSEHOLDS VISITED BY COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWs) IN SUNEKA – KISII COUNTY
HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN (0-59) MONTHS IN HOUSEHOLDS VISITED BY COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWs) IN SUNEKA – KISII COUNTY
Josphine Muthoni Githinji - Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi. Kenya
Dr. Sophie Ngala - Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Community health workers (CHWs) play a crucial role in improving the health and nutritional status of children (0-59 months). In Suneka in Kisii County, they serve as frontline educators, providing information and guidance to caregivers on important health and nutrition practices. By delivering targeted health education messages, CHWs empower caregivers with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their children’s health and nutrition. While community health workers (CHWs) play a vital role in promoting the health and nutritional status of children in households they visit, there are several challenges that affect the effectiveness of their interventions in Suneka in Kisii County. Despite the challenges CHWs face in addressing the health and nutritional status of children (0-59 months), there are no studies (to the authors knowledge) that has investigated the contribution of CHW home visits towards alleviating malnutrition in Suneka. This study sought to bridge this gap. The main objective of this study was to determine the health and nutritional status of children (0- 59) months in households visited by community health workers (CHW) in Suneka – Kisii county. The specific objectives were to determine the; social demographic characteristic of the households with children 0-59months, to determine the nutritional status, immunization status, developmental milestones, and morbidity status of children (0-59) months in households visited by community health workers (CHW) in Suneka – Kisii county. A cross-sectional research design was suitable since data is collected at a specific point in time from a representative sample of the population of interest. Each Community unit had about 10 CHWs each with about 100 households. Therefore, the target population was 140 CHWs and 1,400 households. Kothari’s formula was used to establish a sample size of 384 respondents. Study tools such as semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interview were used to ensure that there was the counterchecking of all the tools/supplies and also the record sheet was applied in the study. A semi- structure questionnaire was pretested to make vital adjustments to enhance reliability and validity of the study findings. Quantitative data collected was edited, coded, classified and tabulated with regard to the type and source. The data was then analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The analysis entailed computation of descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages). Qualitative data collected through key informant interviews was analyzed thematically. The study concluded that, the sociodemographic characteristics of households with children aged 0-59 months are diverse and multifaceted. These characteristics influence children’s access to healthcare, education, nutrition, and social support, ultimately affecting their health and well-being. Understanding the specific sociodemographic factors in a given population is crucial for tailoring policies and interventions to address the unique needs of children and families. The study concluded that CHWs assess the children’s growth, weight, and overall health during home visits to monitor for any signs of malnutrition, illness, or developmental delays. CHWs play a critical role in improving the health and nutritional status of children aged 0-59 months in Suneka, Kisii County. Their efforts lead to better access to healthcare, increased awareness of health and nutrition, and ultimately contribute to healthier and better-nourished children. The study also concluded that, CHWs are instrumental in improving the immunization status of children aged 0-59 months in households they visit. Their work increases awareness, access, and acceptance of vaccines, ultimately contributing to higher vaccination coverage and better protection of children against vaccine-preventable diseases. Moreover, the nutritional status (r = 0.061; p-value = 0.276), immunization status (r = 0.128; p-value = 0.022), and morbidity status (r = 0.044; p-value = 0.434) showed a positive correlation with the effect of the CHW visits with varying degrees of significance. This implies that CHWs visits resulted in better immunization, nutritional and morbidity status respectively. The frequency of visits and activities during visits also showed a positive correlation with the effect of the CHW visits with varying degrees of significance (r= 0.050; p-value =0.377).
