Title/Qualifications: Dr./Phd Department/Unit/Section: Foods, Nutrition &Dietetics Contact Address: P.O Box 43844 00100 Nairobi Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Position: Associate Professor Area Of Specialization: Public Health Nutrition With Special Focus On: Infant And Young Child Feeding Practices, Maternal And Child Nutrition, Overweight And Obesity, Food Security, Linking Agriculture To Nutrition Outcomes, Nutrition In Emergencies, Evaluation Of Programmes Research Interests: Infant And Young Child Feeding, Maternal Nutrition, Overweight And Obesity, Emergency Nutrition, The Linkage Between Agriculture And Nutrition, Micronutrient Nutrition Google scholar ORCID ID Download Full CV

Area of Specialization: Public health nutrition with special focus on: Maternal and child nutrition, food security, nutrition in Emergencies, nutrition and HIV/AIDS, community programme design and evaluation
Research Interests: Infant and young child feeding, maternal nutrition, overweight and obesity, emergency nutrition, climate change and health

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Journal Papers

• Dorothy Apondi Othoo, Sophie Ochola, Elizabeth Kuria and Judith Kimiywe. Impact of Spirulina corn soy blend on Iron deficient children aged 6–23 months in Ndhiwa Sub-County Kenya: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Nutrition (2021) 7:70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-021-00472-w.
• Janet Kajuju Malla, Sophie Ochola, Irene Ogada & Ann Munyaka. Nutritional Value and Sensory Acceptability of oleifera Fortified Finger Millet Porridge for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Nairobi County, Kenya. Journal of Food Research; Vol. 10, No. 5; 2021 ISSN 1927-0887 E-ISSN 1927-0895 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education.
• Kimwele A. M. Ochola S. A. and Mugambi M. N Influence of home-grown school feeding programme on dietary diversity among school children 6-13 years of age in Makueni county, Kenya. European Journal of Health Sciences ISSN 2520-4645 (online) Vol.6, Issue 1, pp 57-72,
• Peterson Kato Kikomeko, Sophie Ochola, Archileo N. Kaaya, Irene Ogada, Tracy L. Birungi and Peace N. Stakeholders’ perceptions of the nutrition and dietetics needs and the requisite professional competencies in Uganda: a cross-sectional mixed methods study. BMC Health Services Research (2021) 21:92 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06090-3.
• Lucy-Joy Wachira, Stella Muthuri, Sophie Ochola, Vincent LJ Wachira, S Muthuri, S Ochola, V Onywera, M Tremblay (2021). Association between dietary behaviours and weight status of school children: results from the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) - Kenya, Child and Adolescent Obesity, 4:1, 1-22, DOI: 10.1080/2574254X.2020.1842014
• Joyce Nzilani Mutuku, Sophie Ochola and Justus Osero. Maternal knowledge and complementary feeding practices and their relationship with nutritional status among children 6-23 months old in pastoral community of Marsabit County, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science. ISSN: 2347-467X, Vol. 08, No. (3) 2020, Pg. 862-876.
• Joseph Kobia M’Liria, Judith Kimiywe and Sophie Ochola. Impact of Mother-to-Mother Support Groups in Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding in a Low-Resource Rural Community in Kenya: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science. ISSN: 2347-467X, Vol.08, No. (2) 2020. Page 609-621.
• Mahat Jimale Mohamed, Sophie Ochola and Victor Owino. A Qualitative Exploration of the Determinants of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) in Wajir County, Kenya. International Breastfeeding Journal (2020) 15:44 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-020-00284-x.
• Wandia Florence, Sophie Ochola, Ogada Irene. Physical and Nutrition Education Intervention Improves Body Weight Status of Adolescents in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science. ISSN: 2347-467X, Vol. 08, No. (1) 2020, Pg. 318-332.
• Wandia Florence, Sophie Ochola and Ogada Irene. Effect of Nutrition and Physical Education on Adolescents’ Physical Activity Levels, Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes and Dietary Practices. J Food Sci Nutr Res 2020;3(2):061-082. J Food Sci Nutr Res 2020;3(2):061-082 DOI: 10.26502/jfsnr.2642-11000039.
• Naureen Andare, Sophie Ochola and Peter Chege. Determinants of infant feeding practices among mothers living with HIV attending prevention of mother to child transmission Clinic at Kiambu Level 4 hospital, Kenya: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nutrition Journal (2019) 18:64 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-019-0490-y
• Peterson Kato Kikomeko, Sophie Ochola, Irene A. Ogada, Archileo N. Kaaya, Peace Nakito. Strengthening Undergraduate Human Nutrition and Dietetics Training in Uganda: The Need to adopt a Competency-based Education. Journal of Education and Practice. ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper). ISSN 2222-288X (Online). DOI:10.7176/JEP.Vol.10, No.21, 2019.
• Stellah Malaso Koini, Sophie Ochola, Irene A. Ogada, Socio-cultural factors and complementary feeding of children 6-23 months among Maasai in Narok South Africa Kenya. Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing. ISSN 2422-8419. An Internal Peer-reviewed Journal. DOI:10.7176/JHMN. VOL. 62, 2019.
• Lucy-Joy M. Wachira, Stella K. Muthuri, Sophie A. Ochola, Vincent O. Onywera, Mark S. Tremblay. Screen-based sedentary behaviour and adiposity among school children: Results from International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) –Kenya. PLoS ONE 13(6): e0199790.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199790. 2018
• Stellah Malaso Koini, Sophie Ochola, Irene Ogada. Association of Complementary Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status of Children 6-23 Months of Age among Maasai Community in Narok South Sub-County, Kenya. International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS) Volume 5 Issue 3, March 2018. ISSN: 2394-4404.
• T, Njoki, S. Ochola, Mutua, and E.W. Kimani. Association between household food security and infant feeding practices in urban informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya". Journal of Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (2018), doi:10.1017/S2040174417001064.
• Jacqueline K. Kung'u, Richard Pendame, Mame Bineta Ndiaye, Mulusew Gerbaba, Sophie Ochola, Adama Faye, Sulochana Basnet, Edward A. Frongillo, Sara Wuehler, Luz Maria De‐ Integrating nutrition into health systems at community level: Impact evaluation of the community‐based maternal and neonatal health and nutrition projects in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Senegal. Matern Child Nutr. 2018;14 (S1):e12577. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12577.
• Esther L. Anono, Sophie Ochola, Salome Wawire, Irene Ogada, Crispin Ndedda, Jacqueline K. Kung’u. "Community Perceptions towards the new role of Traditional Birth Attendants Child Nutrition s Birth Companions and Nutrition Advocates in Kakamega County, Kenya". Matern Child Nutr. 2018;14 (S1):e12577. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12578.
• Purity Chepkorir, Irene Ogada, Audrey Steenbeek, Noni E. Macdonalds, Sophie Ochola Wesley Bor, Godfrey Odinga. Infant feeding practices among HIV-exposed infants less than 6 months of age in Bomet County, Kenya: An in-depth qualitative study of feeding choices. Arch Dis Child 2018; 0:1–4. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2017-314521.
• Mahat Jimale Mohamed, Sophie Ochola and Victor O. Owino. Comparison of knowledge, attitudes and practices on exclusive breastfeeding between primiparous and multiparous mothers attending Wajir District Hospital,Wajir County, Kenya: a cross-sectional analytical study. International Breastfeeding Journal (2018) 13:11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-018-0151-3.
• Okoth JK, Ochola SA, Gikonyo NK and Makokha AO. Efficacy of amaranth sorghum grains porridge in rehabilitating moderately acute malnourished children in a low-resource setting in Kenya: A randomized controlled trial. Integr Food Nutr Metab, 2017 Volume 4(4): 1-7. doi: 15761/IFNM.1000185
• Okoth JK, Ochola SA, Gikonyo NK and Makokha AO. Efficacy of amaranth sorghum grains porridge in rehabilitating moderately acute malnourished children in a low-resource setting in Kenya: A randomized controlled trial. Integr Food Nutr Metab, 2017 Volume 4(4): 1-7. doi: 15761/IFNM.1000185
• Mary N. Makau, Sophie Ochola, Dorcus Mbithe. Feeding Practices of Children Aged 0-59 Months Accompanying Incarcerated Mothers in Selected Women’s Prisons in Kenya DOI: The Open Nutrition Journal 10.2174/1874288201711101???? 2017
• Florence K. M’Kaibi, Nelia P. Steyn, Sophie A. Ochola & Lissane Du Plessis. The relationship between agricultural biodiversity, dietary diversity, household food security, and stunting of children in rural Kenya. Food Science and Nutrition. doi:10.1002/fsn.387 2016.
• Judith Kanensi Okoth, Sophie Atieno Ochola, Nicholas K. Gikonyo, Anselimo Makokha. Development of a nutrient-dense complementary food using amaranth-sorghum grains. Food Science and Nutrition. Article first published online: 22 APR 2016 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.367
• Okoth MA, Ochola S, Onywera V, Steyn NP. Determinants of overweight and obesity in Kenyan adolescents in public and private schools. AJPHERD 2015; 21 (1:2):261-272.
• M’Kaibi K. Florence, Steyn P. Nelia, Sophie Ochola and du Plessis Lissane. Effects of agricultural biodiversity and seasonal rain on dietary adequacy and household food security in rural areas of Kenya. BMC Public Health. 04/2015; 15(1):422. OI: 10.1186/s12889-015-1755-9.
• Sophie Ochola and Penina Kinya Masibo. Dietary Intake of School Children and Adolescents in Developing Countries. Ann Nutr Metab 2014; 64 (suppl 2): 24-40. DOI: 1159/000365235
• Andrew Kiri Amegovu, Sophie Ochola, Patrick Ogwok, Peter Yiga, Juliet Hatoho Musalima & Juliana Mandha. Efficacy of sorghum peanut blend and corn soy blend in the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition in children aged 0-59 months in Karamoja, Uganda: a cluster randomized trial. Nutrition and Dietary Supplements 2014; 6 75-84
• Andrew Kiri Amegovu, Patrick Ogwok, Sophie Ochola, Peter Yiga, Juliet Hatoho Musalima & Juliana Mandha. Sensory Acceptability of Sorghum Peanut Blend (SPB) and Corn SoyBlend Plus (CSB+) by young children with moderate acute malnutrition in Karamoja, Uganda. Journal of Food Science Vol 3, No 2. 2014. 17-26.
• Andrew K. Amegovu, Patrick Ogwok, Sophie Ochola, Peter Yiga, Juliet H. Musalima, Emma Mutenyo. Formulation of sorghum-peanut blend using linear programming for treatment of moderate acute malnutrition in Uganda. Food Chem. Nutr. 01 (02) 2013. 67-77.
• Okoth Judith Kanensi; Sophie Ochola; K. Gikonyo; Anselimo Makokha. Effect of Steeping and Germination on the Diastatic Activity and Sugar Content in Amaranth Grains and Viscosity of Porridge. J. Agric. Food. Tech., 3(1) 1-7, 2013.
• Ochola SA, Labadarios D, Nduati RW (2013). Impact of counselling on exclusive breast-feeding practices in a poor urban setting in Kenya: a randomized controlled trial. Public Health Nutr. 2013 Oct 8:1-9. doi:10.1017/S1368980012004405
• Regina W Mbochi, Elizabeth Kuria, Judith Kimiywe, Sophie Ochola and Nelia P Steyn. BMC Public Health 2012, 12:823. Predictors of overweight and obesity in adult women in Nairobi Province, Kenya http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/823
• Okoth Judith Kanensi; Sophie Ochola; K. Gikonyo; Anselimo Makokha (2011). Optimization of the Period of Steeping and Germination for Amaranth. J. Agric. Food. Tech., 1(6) 101-105.