Risks of Anaemia Among Pre-School Children Following Maternal Nutrition Education and Counselling in Urban Informal Settlements of Nairobi, Kenya.

This study examined the determinants of anemia among children under five years old in two urban informal settlements (Korogocho and Viwandani) in Nairobi, Kenya, five years after a maternal nutrition education and counseling intervention. Despite the intervention, anemia prevalence remained high at 59.8%, with factors significantly associated with increased anemia risk including absence of a home toilet, paying to use toilet facilities, fewer meals consumed, and maternal history of anemia. Conversely, more frequent consumption of colored fruits and vegetables and meat products was linked to reduced anemia risk. The findings highlight the influence of poor sanitation and inadequate dietary intake on child anemia in urban slums and suggest that future interventions should integrate improved sanitation and enhanced access to iron-rich foods, such as through kitchen gardens and small animal husbandry, to effectively address anemia in these settings.