Covariates of neonatal mortality in Kenya

Abstract

The study seeks to establish covariates of neonatal mortality in Kenya. The main study objective was to establish factors that influence neonatal mortality in Kenya. Data for this study was drawn from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2003). National Council for Population and Development and the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) carried out the KDHS,with technical assistance from macro-international incorporated of Claverton Maryland (USA). USAIDjNairobi and DFIDjUK provided financial assistance.

Survival analysis has been used to asses the association between the dependent variable and each of the explanatory variables. The study was confined to 5949children born alive to the sample of women in the 3 years preceding the survey. The variables used in the study included: socioeconomic,socio-cultural and bio-demographic factors.

Results obtained from the life table indicate that the risk of death during neonatal period is highest immediately after birth (0-<1 day). During the first 6 days neonatal mortality remains high but decreases sharply to lower levels. The,results conform approximately to the expected reversed J shaped mortality pattern.

It is evident that from the findings that maternal education, wealth index, mother's region, mother's ethnicity, her religion, her marital status, mother's age at birth, preceding birth interval and birth order were significantly associated with the risk of neonatal death. However, mother's type of place of residence though associated with the risk of neonatal deaths was found not significantly associated with neonatal mortality in both models.

The results of this study support the hypotheses that the risk of death decline with the increase in the numbers of formal schooling. Neonates born to mothers with no formal education faced sUbstantially higher risks of neonatal death in comparison with the

an elevated risk of dying compared neonates born to mothers in other age groups. Neonates of 6+ order births faced higher risks of death compared to first births.

The main policy implication of this study includes empowerment of women through education, Formal education of mothers is critically important to the promotion of child health and disease prevention. There is need also to develop effective health policies that incorporate public and private dimensions of investments in child health. Policy measures should aim at strengthening the current Information Education and Communication (1EC) that enhances child survival. The study recommends further research on the same by use of primary data and use of qualitative method.

an elevated risk of dying compared neonates born to mothers in other age groups. Neonates of 6+ order births faced higher risks of death compared to first births.

The main policy implication of this study includes empowerment of women through education. Formal education of mothers is critically important to the promotion of child health and disease prevention. There is need also to develop effective health policies that incorporate public and private dimensions of investments in child health. Policy measures should aim at strengthening the current Information Education and Communication (IEC) that enhances child survival. The study recommends further

research on the same by use of primary data and use of qualitative method.