Improving Adolescent Nutrition Screening in Rural Kenya

To improve childhood and adolescent nutrition screening and monitoring in rural Kenya, the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition, in partnership with the Siaya County Government Department of Health and Sanitation, launched a nutrition training program. This initiative aimed to strengthen the primary health system by improving nutrition and nutrition-related services at both the facility and household levels. The program equips healthcare professionals and community health agents with the knowledge to assess the nutritional needs of children, evaluate their nutritional status using the Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) z-score tape and make referrals to appropriate healthcare facilities.

Healthcare professionals were trained in the use of the new and innovative MUAC z-score Tape, enabling them to screen children, interpret results, engage with caregivers in discussions and follow referral protocols for malnourished children to ensure continued care. In addition, the Siaya County healthcare system was provided with a donation of over 5,000 MUAC z-score tapes by the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions.

Since the program’s launch in January 2024, 50 Community Health Promoters have screened over 16,000 children using MUAC z-score tape and referred more than 146 children to health facilities for malnutrition treatment.

By integrating MUAC z-score data into the Child Health and Nutrition Information System, the program’s effectiveness will be assessed to evaluate its impact on improving nutrition risk assessment treatment. PHI CWN is eager to develop a standardized nutrition training program and expand it to other counties, contingent on the demonstrated success and impact of the program in Siaya County.

A version of this impact story first appeared in the CWN 2024 Impact Report.