Socio-Cultural Determinants of Household Dietary Diversity in Masaba South Sub-County, Kenya

Within the patriarchal agrarian communities of Masaba South Sub-County in Kenya, women predominantly undertake labour-intensive household food system activities, such as food production, meal preparation, and nutrition management. Despite their central role, women and their children experience disproportionately low dietary diversity. This study examines the socio-cultural impact of norms, including patriarchal structures, cultural beliefs, food taboos, and traditional gender roles, on household dietary diversity and food security. Drawing on ecofeminist theory and neo-Malthusian perspectives, the research utilised a convergent mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 133 household heads using structured questionnaires and analysed through descriptive statistics and Spearman rank-order correlation. Qualitative data were gathered from eight key informants via semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that socio-cultural norms significantly influence food security outcomes (means ranging from 3.95 to 4.27 on a 5-point Likert scale). Spearman correlations indicate that the overall socio-cultural norms construct is significantly associated with both the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) (r = 0.218, p = 0.012) and perceived food availability (r = 0.216, p = 0.013). Key informant interviews corroborate that patrilineal land inheritance and male decision-making authority constrain women’s influence over crop selection and income allocation, while food taboos further restrict the consumption of nutrient-rich foods. The study concludes that although cultural awareness may foster adaptive behaviours, entrenched patriarchal structures and restrictive taboos persist in undermining dietary diversity. It is recommended that gender-transformative land reforms, community dialogues to address harmful taboos, culturally sensitive nutrition education, and policies supporting joint decision-making be implemented to enhance household dietary diversity and food security in Masaba South Sub-County and similar rural contexts.