Household Income, Maternal Nutrition Awareness and Dietary Diversity in Complementary Foods Given to Infants and Children in North Horr Ward Marsabit County, Kenya

Abstract

Household income is emerging as an important factor in the achievement of dietary diversity of complementary foods given to infants and young children. High levels of malnutrition among children experienced in the arid and semi-arid lands of northern Kenya have been attributed to lack of dietary diversity of foods consumed. Previous studies have in fact linked household income with dietary diversity of foods. Nevertheless, maternal nutrition awareness has equally emerged as a critical factor in realizing dietary diversity in complementary foods in arid and semi-arid lands. This study employs the ex-post facto research design and the Hayes’ macro ‘PROCESS’ approach to examine the direct effects of household income on dietary diversity of complementary foods given to infants and young children in north Horr sub-county, and the associated moderating influence of maternal nutrition awareness on these effects. Using a purposive sample of 364 mothers of infants and young children in the age bracket 6-24 months, the study confirms the existence of direct effects of household income on dietary diversity, which are however enhanced by maternal nutrition awareness. It is therefore apparent that maternal nutrition awareness is a vital factor in the relationship between household income and dietary diversity of complementary foods. Policy makers and nutritional stakeholders should consider investing in maternal nutrition awareness alongside household income among mothers in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL), in order to reduce levels of malnutrition experienced in children under 24 months in those areas. Future studies should however triangulate sources of data for purposes of enhancing external validity. Key words: Household income; dietary diversity; maternal nutrition awareness; complementary foods; arid and semi-arid lands.