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Childhood Disability Risk Factors in Kenya: Impact of Poverty and Other Socio-demographics
Authors: George C. T. Mugoya, and Kagendo N. Mutua
Source: International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 62(5): 501-517; DOI: 10.1080/1034912X.2015.1048670
Topic(s): Child health
Maternal health
Poverty
Reproductive health
Country: Africa
  Kenya
Published: JUL 2015
Abstract: The overarching purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of maternal and infant/child health indices that have an established link to childhood disability (CHD) and their association with socio-economic status (SES) in Kenya. Data were drawn from the 2008/2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. Descriptive and weighted Pearson’s chi-square tests were conducted to determine the characteristics of respondents and differences in the proportion of the disability risk factors by place of residence. Logistic regression analyses were then conducted to evaluate the association between SES and select CHD-related factors. Results showed that almost all the disability risk factors were more prevalent and statistically significant among rural residents compared to their urban counterparts. Stratified univariate and multivariate analyses showed differential associations between SES and several disability risk factors by area of resident. This study has provided empirical evidence connecting poverty with several known disability risk factors, i.e. maternal and infant/child health indices. Keywords • childhood disability, • Kenya, • low-income countries, • marginalisation of disability issues, • maternal health issues, • poverty, • rehabilitation