Medical technology, socio-economic status, demographic factors and child mortality: The case of child mortality differentials in Nairobi

Abstract

Mortality differentials in Nairobi (city) are of worldwide interest not only because of their importance to Kenya itself but perhaps because of their implications for other nations at or approaching Kenya's stage of urban and economic development. It is apparent from the present study that mortality levels have declined substantially on average. But differentials among social economic groups continue to persist. Overall the study shows the following: 1) Ward variations are extremely large, with a range of 8 mortality levels (20 years of life expectancy difference), between the. Lowest socio-economic areas and the better off middle income wards. 2) Women born into higher classes have lower mortality among their children. The relationship with social class largely works through the amount of education that the father and mother receive. In this study we found that educational levels correlate quite highly with mortality levels. 3) To survive in a city like Nairobi one must have at least some kind of employment and the level of employment depends on the level of education attained. It follows from this that levels of employment and income should l1avea substantial impact on mortality experience of Nairobi residents. 4) Immigration from high mortality areas has a substantial impact on mortality levels in Nairobi with a correlation coefficient of -0.65. This clearly implies that some of the deaths, actually, a reasonable portion is that which occur elsewhere, In general possible future declines in mortality can be anticipated if average standards of living (in terms of better housing, education, nutrition, etc.) are improved as well as access to medical facilities especially to the poor and unemployed immigrants