The Impact of Socio-Economic, Demographic, and Geographic Factors on the Mortality of Children Under the Age of Five in Kenya, 2022

Andisiwe  Bovu; Ashenafi  Yirga; Sileshi  Melesse; Dawit  Ayele

doi:10.18502/ijph.v53i11.16949

Andisiwe Bovu School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Ashenafi Yirga School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Sileshi Melesse School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Dawit Ayele Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation (CPPE), Department of Health, Washington, DC, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v53i11.16949

Keywords: Survey logistic regression; Adjusted odds ratios; Under-five mortality; Kenya

Abstract

Background: Reducing the under-five child mortality is vital to a nation’s development; global progress has been made in the past two decades. Nevertheless, substantial efforts in the Sub-Saharan Africa region are required to address critical risk factors to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. We aimed to identify the impact of socio-economic, demographic, and geographic factors on under-five child mortality in Kenya.

Methods: This study utilized data from the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). We extracted mortality data for children under the age of five and demographic, socio-economic, and household/geographic factors.

Results: Overall, 19,530 children under the age of five yr were included, with 9,950 (50.95%) males and 9,580 (49.05%) females. Amongst children, 18,836 (96.45%) were alive and 694 (3.55%) were dead. Study findings revealed a significant association between the mother’s age and the child's death. Mothers aged between 15 and 19 yr of age indicate higher odds of child death. The odds of death of children not breastfed is 1.69 times that of other children. Mothers who had no child above five years old previously had higher odds of child mortality than those with at least three children above five years old.

Conclusion: Under-five child mortality is significantly associated with breastfeeding, the mother’s age, and mothers who had a child previously in Kenya. The identified significant determinants align well with the SDG 2030 targets of improving socio-economic status, healthcare systems and reducing inequality. Therefore, the study suggests that preventing underaged women’s pregnancy, proper maternal nutrition among pregnant women, and breastfeeding should be practiced as they are more likely to reduce under-five child mortality.