Empowering mothers and caretakers to screen U5 children for malnutrition using Family MUAC in Kenya

The Irish Global Health Network Conference was held on 26th and 27th October 2022.

Concern in Kenya presented the project 'Empowering mothers and caretakers to screen U5 children for malnutrition using Family MUAC in Kenya' at the 'Empowerment - Health Care Leadership and Representation' session.

The presentation described a two-year research project which asked:

"Does mothers’ use of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening improve early detection, referral and prevention of malnutrition among children under five years old (U5s), with specific references to the challenges faced in pastoralists communities?"

The key results from the research were:

1. Incremental improvement in the proportion of mothers who screen their children on monthly basis from 63% to 79% at the end line.
2. Mothers accurately screen for malnutrition (comparable to health workers (gold standard) despite high illiteracy levels
3. Mothers/Carers empowered to take appropriate actions on screening their children – There was an increase in the proportion of Mothers who take Appropriate Actions after screening their children from 61.5% at baseline to 75% by Endline
4. Mothers referred their children early for management
5. Mother knowledge on child feeding practices improved e.g. Knowledge on breastfeeding improved from 44% to 92.4%

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This document covers humanitarian aid activities implemented with the financial assistance of the Innocent Foundation. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any donor.