Food Science and Quality Management www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-6088 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0557 (Online) Vol.59, 2017 47 Dietary Micronutrient Intake amongst Mothers in Kangai and Mutithi locations of Mwea West Sub County, Kenya Mugambi, Rahab M. 1 , Imungi, J. K. 2 , Waudo, J. N. 3 , Ondigi, A. 4 , 1. Department of Hospitality Management, Kenyatta University 2. Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi 3. Department of Food Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University 4. Department of Hospitality Management, Kenyatta University Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the Dietary Micronutrient Intake amongst Mothers in Kangai and Mutithi locations of Mwea West Sub County, Kenya. The study design was cross sectional survey while data collecting instruments included a structured questionnaire and a meal preparation observation guide. Data were collected on the dietary intake of Vitamin A, iron, and zinc through the four weeks food frequency recall technique, and through observation of Meal preparation in the households. A sample of 399 mothers participated in the structure questionnaire while a sub sample of 63 mothers participated in the meals preparation. The data were processed by the use of the SPSS software. Food Consumption Score tool were used to compute acceptable, borderline and poor categories of dietary intake of micronutrients while National Nutrient Data base for Standard Reference, Release 26 Software v.1.4, to compute nutrient content in foods. The t-tests were used to test hypotheses. It was established that food consumption behaviors and the dietary intake of micronutrients were significantly different in the two locations (p < 0.05). The mothers did not meet the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for Vitamin A, iron and zinc, while Food Consumption Score ( FCS ) tool categorized 33% of the mothers in Kangai and 51% in Mutithi under poor dietary micronutrient intake. The study concluded that mothers in the two studied locations experienced micronutrient deficiency. Further research is recommended using serum biochemical analysis of Vitamin A, iron and zinc in order to get the actual status of these micronutrients in the community. Key Words: Malnutrition, Micronutrient Status, Food Security Status, dietary intake, Poverty 1. Introduction According Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2009), micronutrients play leading roles in production of enzymes, hormones and other substances, helping to regulate growth, activity development and functioning of human immune and reproductive systems . However, according to (Bamji, 2011) lack of dietary intake of vitamins and minerals (micronutrients), results in micronutrient deficiency diseases. Over 2 million people worldwide suffer from micronutrient malnutrition called hidden hunger (FAO, 2002). These people’s diets supply inadequate vitamins and mineral salts such vitamin A, iron and zinc among others. Deficiencies of these nutrients result when habitual diets lack diversity and do not include sufficient fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish, that are best sources of micronutrients (FAO 2002). Globally, some of the three micro nutrient deficiencies of great public health significance are those of vitamin A, iron and zinc. They have been found to be very common and of great concern for women (FAO, 2009: Skalicky, 2006).These micronutrient deficiencies can be eliminated by modifying diets to include a greater diversity of nutrient rich foods (FAO, 2009). Micronutrient deficiencies reduce work capacity. Research findings suggest that iron deficiency anemia reduces the productivity of a manual laborer by up to 17%. As a result, hungry and malnourished adult earn lower wages. This is because they are unable to work as many hours or years as well- nourished people. They also fall sick more often and have a shorter lifespan. Micronutrient deficiency results from many basic factors including poor utilization of the micronutrients by an individual as a result of, among others, unsafe water source, poor sanitation and long distances to health facilities (Bamji, 2011). 1.1 Micronutrient Intake and Household Food Security Status Micronutrient deficiency is a global public health problem especially among women. Women of reproductive age are among the most vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies due to physiologically higher micronutrient requirements during the reproductive life (FAO, 2002). The impact of poor maternal micronutrient status is transmitted inter generationally from mother to child, resulting in less optimal fetal growth and development (Kennedy et al., 2012). People who are food insecure eat diets with less variety , consume lower amounts of fruits and vegetables , and are more likely to have micronutrient deficiencies as well as suffering from malnutrition (Bamji, 2011). There has been an effort in promoting and implementing food based strategies to brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals