1. The KENya-FINland EDUcation and Research Alliance (KENFIN-EDURA)
BUILDING HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NUTRITION TRANSITION IN KENYA: THE KENYA-FINLAND EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ALLIANCE (KENFIN-EDURA)
Mikael Fogelholm, Professor in Public Health Nutrition
University of Helsinki

2. Deaths per

3. In low-income countries, NCD´s are”privilege” of the rich
In low-income countries, NCD´s are”privilege” of the rich. However, as a country´s economic status improves, NCD´s start to affect more uneducated and the poor especially among women - thus creating health inequalities.
Combined with the still existing burden of communicable diseases, LMICs do not have buffer to deal with increased health costs. Therefore the economic consequences of NCD’s in these countries may be detrimental for individuals, healthcare systems and nation.
The main NCD risk factors, unhealthy diet and low physical activity seem to be more important issues than smoking and high alcohol intake. In order to plan better health policies and health promotion actions, a step also in science should be taken from describing the situation to better understanding of determinants of current health behaviour and how it could be changed.

4. Gross national income per capita 2881 $
Kenya
Gross national income per capita 2881 $
Human Development Index (HDI) 146, the second lowest in the class “medium human development”.
During the past 40 years, the proportion of urban dwellers in Kenya has increased from 10 to 32%, with about 60% of them living in informal settlements referred to as slums.
 Overweight and obesity among women was 33% in total and positively related to both education and wealth.
Inadequate physical activity was more frequent among women than among men, it was high also in those with no education, but low among poor people.
In Nairobi City County, 21% of children were overweight or obese, with higher rates among girls and those of higher socioeconomic status.
KNBS, et al. Kenya demographic and health survey Nairobi, Kenya: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics;
Ministry of Health, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, WHO. Kenya Stepwise Survey for non-communicable diseases risk factors 2015 report. Nairobi, Kenya: Ministry of Health; 2015.
Muthuri SK, et al. Direct and self-reported measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviours by weight status in school-aged children: results from ISCOLE-Kenya. Ann Hum Biol 2015;42(3):237–45.
Kyallo F, et al. Overweight and obesity among public and private primary school children in Nairobi, Kenya. Health (NY). 2013;5(8A3):85–90

5. São Caetano do Sul, Brazil
ISCOLE
Ottawa, Canada
Porto, Portugal
Bath, United Kingdom
Baton Rouge, USA
Helsinki, Finland
Bogotá, Colombia
São Caetano do Sul, Brazil
Cape Town, South Africa
Nairobi, Kenya
Tianjin, China
Adelaide, Australia
Bangalore, India

6. Prevalence of obesity in ISCOLE sites%

7. Objectives of KENFIN EDURA
To enhance research capacity in the field of healthy lifestyles and obesity in Kenya, within the context of a rapid nutrition and physical activity transition;
To improve/create a multi-disciplinary, higher education curriculum in the area of obesity, lifestyle (particular emphasis on diet and physical activity) and health promotion.
To develop an international, multi-disciplinary team of researchers with the combined expertise required to address the complex nature of NCDs in Kenya within the context of a country undergoing a nutrition and physical activity transition.
As a part of “learning research by doing”, to conduct a baseline study on the prevalence and lifestyle determinants of NCDs in Kenya.

8. Partner departments at Kenyatta University
Sports Sciences and Recreational Management
Physical Education
Food, human nutrition and dietetics
Finnish partner institutions
University of Helsinki (Human Nutrition, Social Psychology)
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Physical Education)
Decided key focus areas
PhD training
Master’s training and curriculum
Building capacity in research (applied to MSc and PhD level training)
Societal interaction

10. Achievements during the first 8 months of KENFIN EDURA
Building the core operational and management groups/persons:
Project group (active staff at UH, KU and HH)
Project coordinator to UH
Project board
Initial visit UH  KU in June (2 pers.)
Team KU  UH in September (5 pers.)
Coming: Team UH & HH  KU in November (9 pers.)
Getting to know each other and each other’s institutions, curriculum, etc.
Decisions on focus areas
Working on the Academy of Finland Development research plan (completed and submitted in October 2018)  

11. Initial study plan/proposal
Explaining non-communicable disease related behavior in Kenya in the context of urbanization, family and poverty
WP1: Diet, physical activity and weight status in adolescents and their parents in the context of SES and place of residence (urban slum, urban non-slum, and rural)
WP2: The role of family interactions and stress in health behavior
WP3: Built environmental influences on physical activity and diet in the context of urban slum, urban non-slum, and rural residence
WP4: Norms and beliefs related to obesity in the context of gender, socio-economic background and place of residence