ASSESSMENT OF DETERMINANTS OF UNDER-NUTRITION AND FOOD SECURITY AMONG THE ELDERLY IN MOIBEN SUB-COUNTY, UASIN GISHU COUNTY

Abstract

Food insecurity is an issue of great concern across the globe. Attainment of food security is a prerequisite towards realization of vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of which Kenya is a signatory. nutritional status of the elderly is an important determinant of their health and quality of life. Under-nutrition among the elderly people is becoming significantly high regardless of the progress on health care system. The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of under-nutrition and food security among the elderly aged 60 years and above in Moiben Sub- County, Uasin-Gishu County. To achieve this the following objectives were used; To establish factors associated with nutritional status, determine the nutrition status of the elderly, assess the household food security status of the elderly and lastly to determine nutrition related morbidity ailments of the elderly in Moiben Sub-County. A cross sectional survey was done using questionnaire and anthropometric measurements to collect data from 324 elderly persons. A multistage proportional-to-size cluster sampling involving four stages was followed to obtain a total of 324 respondents that were used in this study. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 23. Descriptive statistics like frequency distributions percentages, means and standard deviation were used to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the elderly people in Moiben Sub-County. Chi- square was used to test the relationship between Food Security nutritional status and the socio-economic factors of the elderly people at 5% level of significance. Majority of the households (50.6%) depended on farming as a source of income. The prevalence of undernutrition according to the findings was (41%). The study found a strong significant relationship between food security and nutrition status of the elderly people (chi-square =291.731a, df=6, p-value=0.000). The study also showed a strong association between food security and some of the socio-economic factors such as household size, gender, source of income and substance abuse (chi-square= 39.105a, df=6 and p-value=0.000; chi-square=41.502a, df=2 and p-value 0.000; chi-square=25.218a, df=10 and p-value=0.005 and chi-square=26.263a, df=4 and p-value=0.003) respectively. In conclusion, optimal nutrition in the elderly has implications for improving their health status and general well-being, as well as for reducing the burden on limited health care resources. The challenge is to identify and tackle the basic and underlying causes of food insecurity and poor nutritional status of the elderly in Moiben Sub-County, Uasin-Gishu County. The study recommends establishment of nutrition awareness compaign in Moiben Sub-County, provision of monthly stipend to the elderly people and sensitization of the elderly people on side effects of engaging in irresponsible behaviors like alcoholism and smoking.