Predictors of Weight Status Among Children Under Five Years in an Urban Informal Settlement in Kisumu County, Kenya

OSF: Published: 2025-11-18 03:38 PM, doi.org Predictors of Weight Status Among Children Under Five Years in an Urban Informal Settlement in Kisumu County, Kenya Authors Lekakeny Naiyomah* Affiliations * Department of Nursing, Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi, Kenya. Abstract Background: Child weight status is a critical indicator of health among children under five years, particularly in low-resource urban settings. In Kondele Ward, Kisumu County, Kenya, the coexistence of undernutrition and emerging overweight remains a significant public health concern. Objective: To determine the predictors of weight status among children under five years in Kondele Ward, Kisumu County. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 caregivers of children aged 0–59 months using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Weight status was classified using WHO growth standards. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, while multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of malnutrition. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Overall, 3.8% of children were underweight and 2.8% were overweight, while 93.5% had normal weight status. Despite high antenatal care attendance (88.8%) and immunization coverage (93.8%), 21% of households experienced food insecurity. In multivariable analysis, frequent unhealthy snacking (AOR 2.86, 95% CI: 1.11–7.35, p = 0.029) and recent meal skipping (AOR 4.40, 95% CI: 1.29–15.01, p = 0.018) were significant predictors of malnutrition. Conclusion: Child weight status in Kondele Ward is influenced by modifiable feeding practices, particularly unhealthy snacking and meal skipping, despite relatively high healthcare utilization. Interventions should prioritize improving child feeding behaviors alongside strengthening household food security to address the dual burden of malnutrition. Copyright: © 2025 Naiyomah, L. et al. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.