Food Environment in and around Primary School Children’s Schools and Neighborhoods in Two Urban Settings in Kenya

Constance Awuor Gewa, Agatha Christine Onyango, Rose Okoyo Opiyo, Lawrence Cheskin and Joel Gittelsohn
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Constance Awuor Gewa: Department of Nutrition & Food Studies, College of Health & Human Services, George Mason University, 4408 Patriot Circle, Suite 4100, MSN 1F7, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Agatha Christine Onyango: Department of Nutrition & Health, Maseno University, Maseno P.O. Box 333-40105, Kenya
Rose Okoyo Opiyo: School of Public Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi P.O. Box 30197-00100, Kenya
Lawrence Cheskin: Department of Nutrition & Food Studies, College of Health & Human Services, George Mason University, 4408 Patriot Circle, Suite 4100, MSN 1F7, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Joel Gittelsohn: Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: We conducted a cross-sectional study to provide an overview primary school children food environment in two urban settings in Kenya. Six schools, catering to children from low-, medium- and high-income households in the cities of Nairobi and Kisumu in Kenya, participated in the study. Data on types of food places and foods offered were collected and healthy and unhealthy food availability scores calculated for each place. We utilized prevalence ratio analysis to examine associations between food availability, food place characteristics and neighborhood income levels. Altogether, 508 food places, located within 1 km of the schools and the school children’s neighborhoods were observed. Open-air market sellers and kiosks were most common. The proportion of food places with high healthy food availability was 2.2 times greater among food places in Nairobi compared to Kisumu, 1.9 times greater in food places with multiple cashpoints, 1.7 times greater in medium/large sized food places and 1.4 times greater in food places located in high income neighborhoods. These findings highlight differences in availability of healthy foods and unhealthy foods across types of food places and neighborhood income levels and inform public health interventions aimed at promoting healthy food environments in Kenya.

Keywords: school children; food environment; food healthiness; urban settings; Kenya (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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