Study Setting and Sampling Strategy. Kenya consists of 23 Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASALs) with 9 of them being arid and 14 semi-arid[67]. Nomadic pastoralists tend to live in the arid lands and agro-pastoralists live in the semi-arid lands[67]. ASALs are characterized by low human development, low population density, and poor infrastructure[67]. Out of all the provinces in Kenya, Northern Kenya has the lowest measures for indicators of child nutrition. While most of the children in Northern Kenya breastfeed within the first hour after birth, the province has the shortest median of duration of any breastfeeding in Kenya (19.4 months)[68]. Adherence to IYCF practices (3%), consumption of vitamin A-rich foods (25%), iron-rich foods (21%) and deworming medication (21%) are also low in the region[68]. Overall, Northern Kenya has the lowest percentage on micronutrient intake in Kenya (55.1%)[68]. The research was conducted from June through August of 2016 in Marsabit and Isiolo counties, which are part of Northern Kenya. The two counties were selected based on the safety and stability of the region compared to other counties in Northern Kenya. The selected counties also possessed the heterogeneity in socio-cultural and economic contexts, and sedentarization, which were essential to the objectives of the study. FGDs were conducted on the xxxx level which was different for each of the counties. Laisamis, Korr, Turbi, Sololo, and Moyale wards are in Marsabit county, and Burat, Kinna, Merti, Oldonyiro and Ngaremara wards are in Isiolo county. The study participants were recruited from two groups namely young women aged 15-40 years with at least one child below the age of 2 years, and older women >45 years with at least 1 grandchild. Purposive sampling was used to obtain a sample of 10 to 12 women from each group of women who were diverse in social economic status, education, age, family structure and number of children. The ILRI county representative notified the xxxx officials about the purpose of the study and the importance of their community members participating in it. Thereafter, prospective participants were notified about the study by their village representatives and/or elders within their community.
