Dietary Practices And Nutrition Status Of Pregnant Adolescents In Kajiado County, Kenya

Kajiado County ranks eighth in the country for adolescent pregnancy, with one in five teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 (21.8%) likely to be pregnant or have begun having children. The objectives of the study were to establish the dietary practices and nutrition status of pregnant adolescents in Kajiado County. The study employed a cross-sectional analytical design in a target population of 196 pregnant adolescents living in Kajiado West, Ewauso and Keekonyoike wards which were randomly selected. Qualitative data was gathered through key informant interview guides with facility nurse in charge and head teacher/principal. Dietary data was collected using a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire.Dietary diversity was established using the minimal dietary diversity questionnaire for women of reproductive age (MDD-W). Nutrisurvey software was to analyze dietary data. Married respondent was at 41.8% (40.8 users and 44.1% non-users) of ANC with a p-value of 0.212. Dietary energy intake was 1086.82 {+/-} 90.57kcals having RDA of 29.0% (users at 1105.72 {+/-}95.43 and RDA 29.6%, non-users 1070.12{+/-}8.36 with RDA of 28.4%). The Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD-W) for Women of Reproductive Age 98.4% users was 68.3% of women who utilized antenatal care (ANC) services consumed foods and beverages from 5 or more food groups on the previous day, compared to only 31.7% non-users having a p-value 0.24. Respondent having (MUAC < 22 cm) indicates potential malnutrition or nutritional risk at 31.2% (users at 30.8% and non-users 32.2%) with a p-value 0.534.Overall mean hemoglobin level is 12.35g/dl with a standard deviation of 0.93g/dl having low ranges of < 11.5g/dl (users at 30 and non-users at 12) total of 42 adolescent. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions at increasing nutrient intake and dietary diversity among pregnant adolescents towards improved nutrition status.