Improving dietary diversity and nutritional health of women and children under two years through increased utilization of local agrobiodiversity and enhanced nutrition knowledge in Kenya

The current thesis had two major objectives. The first one was to assess dietary patterns, food and nutrient intakes of women and children aged 6-23 months during two seasons in Western Kenya. The second objective was to develop and evaluate the effect of a nutrition education intervention focusing on increased utilization of local agrobiodiversity and enhanced nutrition knowledge among caregivers on the diversity of complementary diets of children aged 6-23 months. Repeated cross-sectional surveys were conducted at three time points: the baseline survey in July/ August 2012 (harvest season), a second survey in November 2012 to capture a different season (post-harvest season), and an endline survey in July/ August 2013, after the completion of the five month nutrition education intervention. The intervention study applied the cluster-randomized control trial design and included one intervention and one control group.