e lunch and anthropometric data respectively. The results indicated a positive association between the school lunch and nutritional status. The diet quality of the school lunch and nutritional status of participants were significantly higher than that of the non-participants.
SLP had a positive significant effect on the nutritional status of participating children. More schools and parents in similar environments should therefore be encouraged to venture into the SLP because of their positive outcome on nutritional status as well as the diet quality of participating children.
Key words: School Lunch Programmes, Nutritional statusINTRODUCTION
An understanding and awareness of the heavy burden of malnutrition among school children is growing. However, even though a better picture of the nutritional status of this age group is being built, the extent of the burden of malnutrition is still not fully known . Malnutrition in this age group can be addressed by focusing on relevant policies and programmes . The main nutritional problems facing the school-aged children are stunting, underweight, wasting and anemia. However children can exhibit catch up growth if their environment improves . Thus school-based interventions like school feeding programmes (SFP) aimed at alleviating hunger can also help improve nutritional status of school children if well planned .
The Government of Kenya (GOK) / World Food Programme (WFP) School Feeding Programme was introduced in Kenya in 1981. The programme is still in operation and covers arid and low potential areas in which food production is low. These areas are poor, have food deficits and school enrolment levels that are below the national average of 87% . Among the objectives of the programme were to improve nutritional status, school enrolment and attendance levels and therefore academic performance of participating children. The School Feeding Programme aims to achieve this through providing a nutritious midday meal to pupils.
However, some of the areas that are not covered by the feeding programme discussed above have adopted a scheme whereby they provide a midday meal throughout the school year at a relatively low cost, with the same objectives as the school feeding programme. The meal is also provided to save time for class and to provide recreation time during lunch hour and also due to the fact that some mothers are not available to prepare lunch for their children. The meal is prepared from locally produced foods and is intended to make up for possible imbalances in the childrens' daily diet. The programme is referred to as the School Lunch Programme (SLP).
Vihiga District experiences food shortages almost throughout the year due to small farm sizes and high population density. Compassion International (a Non-governmental Organization) initially supported the school-feeding programme, but withdrew due to financial constraints. A scrutiny of the academic performance, enrollment and attendance records revealed that there was significant improvement in schools that were supported as compared to those that were not. A number of schools have since adopted the system whereby a midday meal is provided for pupils. Parents contribute some money to cater for this. However, there has been no evaluation of these SLP to show their effect on nutritional status of school children. School Feeding Programmes have been established in many countries .
Area of study
Emuhaya Division is located on the leeward side of the Maragoli hills. It therefore receives low amounts of rainfall, a factor likely to negatively affect food production in the area. Temperatures in the Division range from 14oC to 32oC. It has a population of 101, 196 people in an area of 169.5 square km. The population density is approximately 1091 persons per square km. The average family size is 8 persons while the mean farm size is slightly less than 0.6 ha or 1.5 acres. The Division has 4 locations namely Wekhomo, North Bunyore, East Bunyore and North East Bunyore . The division was chosen as the study site because it experiences foo