The effect of maternal education on infant and child mortality in Kenya

Abstract

The objective of this study is to find out the relationship between maternal education and the level of infant and child mortality in Kenya. Data drawn from the 1993 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey was examined through the application of the Trussell version of the Brass child survival technique. This project explores the hypothesis that education of mother's lS inversely related to infant and child mortality in Kenya. Although it is difficult to measure the direct effect of mother's education on infant and child mortality at the macro level, the differentials are observed for the four educational categories (no education, primary incomplete, primary complete~ &: and secondary and above) of the 7540 women interviewed during the survey secondary and above education was found to be necessary for the reduction of infant and child mortality in Kenya. In addition to this the pastern of infant and child death by mothers age was observed for mothers with" different educational levels. Thus, the results obtained are consistent wish the previous studies of this nature In Kenya.