DIETARY KNOWLEDGE AND NUTRITION STATUS OF POST-KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS ATTENDING MOI TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL, ELDORET, KENYA

Abstract

Background: Nutritional status of post-kidney transplant patients plays an
important role in allograft function and overall healthy recovery of the post kidney transplant patient. There is insufficient academic evidence on dietary knowledge and nutritional status of post kidney transplant patients in Kenya. The objectives of this study was determine post kidney transplant patients’ dietary knowledge level and its effect on nutrition status post kidney transplant.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey targeting post kidney transplant patients who had undergone kidney transplant within the last three months to 12 months at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Kidney Transplant Centre, Eldoret. Patients who have undergone kidne    y transplant below 3 months and above 1 year at the start of data collection were excluded in the study. Data was collected through the administration of a questionnaire, a data collection sheet, and patients’ medical records to help in the collection of anthropogenic data. Analysis of data using SPSS Version 23.0 was done using measures of central tendency. The cross tabulation and chi-square test were computed to examine the existence of significant differences in the association between the independent variable.
Results: A total of 17 post-kidney transplant patients participated in the
research. Results showed that 8 (47.1%) of post-kidney transplant patients of normal nutritional status, 6 (35.3%) were overweight, and 3 (17.6%) were
underweight. On post-kidney transplant patients’ dietary knowledge level, 6 (35.3%) had a high level, 10 (52.9%) had a moderate dietary knowledge level, and the relationship between dietary knowledge and nutritional status of post-kidney transplant patients transplant patients (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Dietary knowledge influenced the nutritional status of post-renal transplant patients in Kenya. This ultimately affected post-kidney
transplant patients’ health, allograft function, and reduced risks of cardio
vascular risk factors. Only 2(11.8%) had a low dietary knowledge level. There was significant relationship between dietary knowledge and nutritional status of post-kidney transplant patients (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Dietary knowledge influenced the nutritional status of postkidney transfer patients in Kenya. This ultimately affected post-kidney
transplant patients’ health, allograft function and reduced risks of cardio
vascular risk factors