| Determinants of under-five mortality in rural and urban Kenya |
| Authors: |
Ettarh RR, Kimani J. |
| Source: |
Rural and Remote Health, 2012;12:1812. Epub 2012 Mar 13. |
| Topic(s): |
Childhood mortality
Children under five
Rural-urban differentials
|
| Country: |
Africa
Kenya
|
| Published: |
MAR 2012 |
| Abstract: |
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The disparity in under-five year-old mortality rates between rural and urban areas in Kenya (also reported in other in sub-Saharan African countries), is a critical national concern. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of geographical location and maternal factors on the likelihood of mortality among under-five children in rural and urban areas in Kenya.
Methods: Data from the 2008-2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey were used to determine mortality among under-five children (n=16 162) in rural and urban areas in the 5 years preceding the survey. Multivariate analysis was used to compare the influence of key risk factors in rural and urban areas.
Results: Overall, the likelihood of death among under-five children in the rural areas was significantly higher than that in the urban areas (p<0.05). Household poverty was a key predictor for mortality in the rural areas, but the influence of breastfeeding was similar in the two areas. The likelihood of under-five mortality was significantly higher in the rural areas of Coast, Nyanza and Western Provinces than in Central Province.
Conclusions: The study shows that the determinants of under-five mortality differ in rural and urban areas in Kenya. Innovative and targeted strategies are required to address rural poverty and province-specific sociocultural factors in order to improve child survival in rural Kenya.
Key words: Kenya, rural vs urban, under-five mortality. |
| Web: |
http://www.rrh.org.au/publishedarticles/article_print_1812.pdf |
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