Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 4: 94 - 102. Published April 2008.
EFFECT OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max)
SUPPLEMENTATION ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF SCHOOL CHILDRENAGED 6-9 YEARS FROM HIV AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS IN SUBA DISTRICT, KENYA
*^Joyce Kamau, ***Omo Ohiokpehai, **Dorcus Mbithe, **Judith Kimiywe, *Lawrence Oteba, ****Gertrude
Were and ***Brenda King’olla
*Kenyatta University, Department of Public Health, P.O. Box, 43844 – 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya; **Kenyatta
University, Department of Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics, P.O. Box, 43844 – 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya; ***CIATTSBF,
P.O. Box 30677- 00100, Nairobi; ****Moi University, Department of Family and Consumer Studies, P.O. Box 3900, Eldoret, Kenya.
^Corresponding author email: jokamau2002@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study investigated the effect of soybean supplementation on the nutritional status of school
children from HIV affected households in western Kenya.
Methodology and Results: A research design was used with 54 and 56 randomly selected subjects in the
experimental and control groups, respectively. The experimental group received corn-soy blend porridge for
three months at school. A structured questionnaire and anthropometry were used to collect data.
Malnutrition levels among the experimental group reduced from 10.2, 28.9 and 5.6% for underweight,
stunting and wasting, respectively, to 6.2, 16.7 and 3.4%, respectively. The control group registered 11.4,
28.5 and 8.7% underweight, stunting and wasting, respectively at baseline. Underweight and wasting rose
to 14.3 and 9.5%, respectively, while stunting dropped to 21.5%, which were insignificant changes.
Conclusion and application of findings: The feeding trial using corn-soy blend improved the nutritional
status of school children in Suba District. It is likely that significant improvement of the pupils’ nutritional
status would be realized with extended feeding periods. Soybean has potential to curb protein energy
malnutrition and its utilization should be promoted in HIV and AIDS affected areas to alleviate malnutrition.
Key words: soybean, corn-soy blend, nutritional status, HIV and AIDS, school children
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