What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to evaluate the nutritional adequacy of pregnant women's diets in Kenya using various dietary assessments.

July 3, 2026Open Access

The nutrition transition and adequacy of the diet of pregnant women in Kenya

Key Points

The aim is to evaluate the nutritional adequacy of pregnant women's diets in Kenya using various dietary assessments.
Nationally representative sample of 1,061 women aged 15 years in Kenya.
Sub-sample of 53 pregnant women included for analysis.
24-hour dietary recall to calculate dietary diversity score, food variety score, and mean nutrient adequacy ratio.
Mean intakes of energy, protein, fiber, calcium, and zinc were below recommended allowances (RDA).
Very low intakes of vitamin D, niacin, folate, and vitamin B6 were observed.
Dietary patterns indicated nutrition transition with high fat and carbohydrate intakes, and low dietary diversity associated with food insecurity.

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to assess the nutritional adequacy of the diet of pregnant women in Kenya. A nationally representative sample of women aged 15 years (N=1061) was assessed in Kenya. A sub-sample of pregnant women (N=53) were randomly included in the group and their data is presented here. A 24-hour dietary recall was conducted with each participant and dietary diversity score (DDS), food variety score (FVS) and mean nutrient adequacy ratio (MAR) were calculated. The results mean energy, protein, fibre, calcium and zinc intakes were below the recommended allowances (RDA). Very low mean intakes were also recorded for vitamin D, niacin, folate and vitamin B6. Fat and carbohydrate intakes exceeded the RDA. The dietary pattern showed aspects of the nutrition transition, namely a high fat, low fibre, and high carbohydrate intake as well as typical aspects associated with food insecurity, namely low energy and protein intakes, and a low dietary diversity.

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