COMPARATIVE STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS FOR INSTITUTIONALISED AND HOME-DWELLING RESIDENTS AGED 70+ IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS OF NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

This was a comparative study on nutritional status for institutionalised and home-dwelling residents aged 70+ in informal settlements of Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study employed a cross-sectional analytical design. A mixed-methods approach was used which integrated both qualitative and quantitative data. Census sampling was done in the homes for the aged institutions due to the small number of registered older person’s who met the inclusion criteria. Primary data was sourced from consented anthropometric measurements of the older adults, observational ethnographical notes from the physical excursions, recorded structured questionnaire interviews, KIIs , FGDs and formal write-ups from the city and the care homes. The study concluded that many elders depended on well-wishers, aid and routine food baskets to eat a diverse diet. The study indicated that widowed older individuals had significant lower odds of good nutritional status compared to their married counterparts. There was positive correlation between people in Home for the aged who had a lower mean or median value for the MUAC, suggesting potential nutritional deficiencies. The study recommended that Nairobi County Social Development Department should collaborate with the private sector nursing homes/ aged care facilities to improve their in-house modelling of older persons’ nutrition to better the public homes situation.