Urban Health Assessment: Nutrition and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Challenges Facing Children and Adolescents in Urban Slums in Nairobi

Summary

Considering that poor health and nutrition during childhood and adolescence is associated with poor health outcomes during adulthood, a better understanding of nutrition and WASH challenges facing these two groups as well as current interventions/solutions put in place is required. In this policy brief we present findings from a study which aimed to assess: a. Policies and strategies that shape urban nutrition and WASH; b. Socio-cultural and economic factors that influence behaviors related to child nutrition in urban poor contexts as understood through available literature and data; c. Programs and initiatives that shape nutrition and WASH in urban poor areas; d. Key actors and platforms that influence nutrition of children in urban poor contexts; e. Formal/informal systems for healthcare related to child nutrition in urban poor contexts; f. Formal/informal systems for food in urban poor contexts and; g. Environmental factors that influence hazardous exposures that can adversely influence child nutrition in urban poor contexts.