How do you cope when your next meal is never guaranteed? Beyond hunger, this uncertainty quietly shapes a caregiver's mental wellbeing and, in turn, a child's future.
A recent study by Aga Khan University's Institute for Human Development (IHD) highlights this reality. In Kenya's arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) regions, food insecurity is closely linked to depression and anxiety among caregivers of young children.
The research focuses on caregivers living in counties such as Turkana County in northern Kenya, Isiolo County in the east, and Lamu County along the coast, areas where daily life requires constant adjustment to limited resources and harsh environments.
As Esther Jebor Chongwo, a researcher at the Institute for Human Development, explained the study explored how the stress of not having enough food connects to mental health.
“We wanted to look at how food insecurity is associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among caregivers of children aged between 0 to 3 years," she said.
For Esther, the research is deeply personal.
“I was born and raised in an ASAL region, Baringo County in Kenya's Rift Valley, so for me, this was not just a research question; it was something I had seen and experienced."
With a background in nursing and public health, she has witnessed how mental health challenges manifest in clinical settings and ripple through the lives of individuals and families, giving her a perspective shaped by both real-world experience and research.
What emerges from the study is a difficult reality.
Among 446 caregivers surveyed across the three counties, many were facing multiple, overlapping challenges. The average caregiver was just under 30 years old, yet stability was limited: nearly three-quarters lacked access to improved sanitation, more than half were unemployed, and one in three had experienced their first pregnancy before the age of 18.
Within these conditions, mental health challenges were common. About 22.4% of caregivers (1 in 5) reported symptoms of depression, while 11.2% experienced anxiety. At the same time, most households were living with moderate to severe food insecurity, with some areas, particularly Turkana, facing near-universal shortages.
A clear pattern emerged: as food insecurity increased, so did symptoms of depression and anxiety.
“This is just one piece," Esther noted, pointing to the need for continued exploration of caregivers' lived realities.
The effects extend beyond the caregivers themselves.
Early childhood development depends not only on nutrition and physical health, but also on emotional connection, stability, and responsive caregiving. Under sustained stress, providing this environment becomes increasingly difficult, even with the strongest intentions.
The study also shows how complex this challenge is. Older caregivers, those with higher education levels, and those caring for children with chronic illnesses were more likely to report depressive and anxiety symptoms, reflecting overlapping economic, social, and environmental pressures.
New questions are also emerging.
“We can look at this further," Esther added, highlighting the need for longterm research that tracks caregivers over time, including whether these experiences differ between female and male caregivers.
This points to the need for more nuanced research that can better inform targeted interventions.
What is clear is that solutions cannot be one-dimensional.
Addressing food insecurity alone is not enough. Mental health support must be integrated into maternal and child health programmes, alongside broader efforts to improve access to food and essential services.
For Aga Khan University, this work reflects a broader commitment to research that shapes how complex challenges are addressed in practice, bringing together evidence, communities, and action.
Ultimately, in Kenya's ASAL regions, supporting caregivers means seeing the full picture. When caregivers are supported, children, families, and communities are more likely to thrive.
