Child malnutrition and climate in Sub-Saharan Africa: An analysis of recent trends in Kenya

Kathryn Grace; Frank Davenport; Chris Funk; Amy M. Lerner

doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.06.017

Child malnutrition and climate in Sub-Saharan Africa: An analysis of recent trends in Kenya

Kathryn Grace
, Frank Davenport
, Chris Funk
, Amy M. Lerner

Geography, Environment and Society

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

153 Scopus citations

Abstract

In Kenya - where undernutrition rates are high and the population-environment balance is delicate - the risk of declining food availability has become increasingly concerning as indications of drying trends threaten current food systems. The purpose of this research is to determine if climate variables are related to rates of childhood stunting in Kenya. Specifically we use multi-level regression models at the cluster/household level to evaluate the correlation between surface temperatures, rainfall levels and stunting among children aged one to five. Our results suggest that as Kenya continues to experience warming and drying, malnutrition rates will increase. We propose that investments in infrastructure and expansion of education can mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	405-413
Number of pages	9
Journal	Applied Geography
Volume	35
Issue number	1-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.06.017
State	Published - 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We are grateful for the assistance and support of Dr. Greg Husak. This work was supported by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) and USGS award #G09AC00001. An earlier version of this work was presented at the Population Association of America conference in 2011.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Climate
Food security
Kenya
Malnutrition
Stunting

Publisher link

10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.06.017

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title = "Child malnutrition and climate in Sub-Saharan Africa: An analysis of recent trends in Kenya",

abstract = "In Kenya - where undernutrition rates are high and the population-environment balance is delicate - the risk of declining food availability has become increasingly concerning as indications of drying trends threaten current food systems. The purpose of this research is to determine if climate variables are related to rates of childhood stunting in Kenya. Specifically we use multi-level regression models at the cluster/household level to evaluate the correlation between surface temperatures, rainfall levels and stunting among children aged one to five. Our results suggest that as Kenya continues to experience warming and drying, malnutrition rates will increase. We propose that investments in infrastructure and expansion of education can mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.",

keywords = "Climate, Food security, Kenya, Malnutrition, Stunting",

author = "Kathryn Grace and Frank Davenport and Chris Funk and Lerner, \{Amy M.\}",

note = "Funding Information: We are grateful for the assistance and support of Dr. Greg Husak. This work was supported by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) and USGS award \#G09AC00001. An earlier version of this work was presented at the Population Association of America conference in 2011.",

year = "2012",

doi = "10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.06.017",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "35",

pages = "405--413",

journal = "Applied Geography",

issn = "0143-6228",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

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}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Child malnutrition and climate in Sub-Saharan Africa

T2 - An analysis of recent trends in Kenya

AU - Grace, Kathryn

AU - Davenport, Frank

AU - Funk, Chris

AU - Lerner, Amy M.

N1 - Funding Information: We are grateful for the assistance and support of Dr. Greg Husak. This work was supported by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) and USGS award #G09AC00001. An earlier version of this work was presented at the Population Association of America conference in 2011.

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - In Kenya - where undernutrition rates are high and the population-environment balance is delicate - the risk of declining food availability has become increasingly concerning as indications of drying trends threaten current food systems. The purpose of this research is to determine if climate variables are related to rates of childhood stunting in Kenya. Specifically we use multi-level regression models at the cluster/household level to evaluate the correlation between surface temperatures, rainfall levels and stunting among children aged one to five. Our results suggest that as Kenya continues to experience warming and drying, malnutrition rates will increase. We propose that investments in infrastructure and expansion of education can mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

AB - In Kenya - where undernutrition rates are high and the population-environment balance is delicate - the risk of declining food availability has become increasingly concerning as indications of drying trends threaten current food systems. The purpose of this research is to determine if climate variables are related to rates of childhood stunting in Kenya. Specifically we use multi-level regression models at the cluster/household level to evaluate the correlation between surface temperatures, rainfall levels and stunting among children aged one to five. Our results suggest that as Kenya continues to experience warming and drying, malnutrition rates will increase. We propose that investments in infrastructure and expansion of education can mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

KW - Climate

KW - Food security

KW - Kenya

KW - Malnutrition

KW - Stunting

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U2 - 10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.06.017

DO - 10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.06.017

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84867067546

SN - 0143-6228

VL - 35

SP - 405

EP - 413

JO - Applied Geography

JF - Applied Geography

IS - 1-2

ER -

Child malnutrition and climate in Sub-Saharan Africa: An analysis of recent trends in Kenya

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

Publisher link

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