Malnutrition among the Akamba of Kenya. Problem or response to a problem

Two recent studies amongst the Kenyan Akamba are contrasted to illustrate how malnutrition can be regarded either as a response to a problem in the local environment, or as the problem itself, arising from general conditions of poverty and ignorance. Differences in methodology are compared and it is shown that nutrition studies often ignore local factors in reaching conclusions on nutritional status. Consequently, nutrition policy recommendations provide general solutions of limited value. It is suggested that factors in the local environment which may cause malnutrition be investigated by hypothesis testing, in order to provide specific information for community-based action. The category of the poor is not merely inadequate for evaluative exercises and a nuisance for causal analysis, it can also have distorting effects on policy matters. On the causal side, the lack of discrimination between different circumstances leading to poverty gives rise to a lack of focus in policy choice.