Title of the Thesis: “A Comparison of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Nutrition and Food Safety Between Primary School Students Receiving a Practical Agri-Nutrition Education Program and the Grade 5 Agriculture and Nutrition Competency-Based Curriculum in Meru County, Kenya”

Abstract: Micronutrient malnutrition remains a major public health challenge among school-age children in Kenya, driven by poor dietary diversity, food insecurity, and unsafe food practices. This study evaluates a Practical Agri-Nutrition Education (PANE) program implemented among Grade 5 students to improve nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). Using a quasi-experimental pre-post design, outcomes were compared between students receiving PANE (n=43) and those following the national Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) (n=55). Data were collected using structured KAP questionnaires, and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Post-intervention, PANE participants demonstrated significantly improved knowledge, more positive attitudes toward recommended practices, and reported fewer barriers to adopting them than the comparison group. Findings suggest that PANE improved knowledge and attitudes but did not translate into improved practices within the short study period. Since the PANE was found to enhance the CBC curriculum, our findings support integrating PANE into the CBC curriculum, with longer-duration interventions and teacher involvement.

April 23, 2026, 8:30 am in Health Sciences Building, Room 323

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