1075Patterns, determinants and socioeconomic inequalities in eating healthy in Kenya

Abstract

Abstract Background Kenya is undergoing an epidemiological transition marked by an increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with unhealthy diet being a key risk factor. This study sought to identify patterns, determinants and socioeconomic inequalities in healthy food consumption in Kenya. Methods A secondary analysis of the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey 2015/2016 (KIHBS) data was conducted. A healthy diet indicator (HDI) was computed from food consumption information using principal component analysis (PCA) based on WHO and FAO recommendations. Multivariable probit regression was used to identify determinants of eating healthy. The concentration index (CI) method was used to identify socioeconomic inequalities in eating healthy overall, by gender and residence using household aggregate consumption per adult equivalent. Results The final sample consisted of 21, 512 households. Two thirds of them were rural and majority were male-headed (66%). 49% of households were eating healthy countrywide. HDI scores increased with increasing socioeconomic status overall, by gender and residence. Households with higher socioeconomic status (0.30, p < 0.01), rural (0.20, p < 0.01), in union (0.07, p < 0.01) and Christian (0.16, p < 0.01) were more likely to eat healthy while male-headed (-0.04, p < 0.01), Muslim (-0.07, p < 0.05) and households whose household-heads had lower education status (-0.09, p < 0.01) were less likely to eat healthy. Eating healthy was concentrated among the rich overall, by gender and residence. Conclusions A large proportion of Kenyans are consuming unhealthy foods with the rich eating healthier than the poor. Key messages Interventions are required to promote healthy dietary patterns and reduce socioeconomic inequality in eating healthy.