| dc.description.abstract | Infant mortality has traditionally been viewed as an
indicator of social and economic well being of a society. At
present, the rate of infant mortality in most developing
countries is alarmingly high. Kenya, for example, still has
high infant and child mortality rates despite the fact that it
has achieved some amounts of decline since the first world
war. In 1969 the infant mortality rate for Kenya was approximately
113 per 1000, it dropped to 96 per 1000 in 1979 and by
1984 it was approximately 92 per 1000. Several scholars have
identified several socio-economic factors as key determinants
of childhood mortality in the developing countries.
The present study has four main objectives. First, to
estimate mortality levels by different socio-economic groups
in Kenya. Second, to estimate mortality levels fOT different ..
adminstrative regions in Kenya. Third, to establish the possible
determinants of infant and child mortality in Kenya. Fourth
to suggest areas in need of further re ach and the implications
of the present study to policy makers.
The study limitations should hereby be noted. First.
- the study uses contraceptive prevalence survey data which was
basically meant to study contraceptive usage in Kenya. There
is therefore a possibility of data being inadequate for mortallty
studies. Second. the methodologies applied have their
own weaknesses and assumptions. Third, most variables used here
are meant to act as proxie or others. Hence there is a possibility
that the implied meaning derived from the results is not
very perfect. Finally, it should be pointed that the literature
search conducted for this study is non-exhaustive. However. the
studies reviewed here provided references to the necessary
literature from the developing countries.
The organization of this thesis is as follows. Chapter
one essentially deals with introduction, statement of the problem,
research hypotheses, methodological issues and literature
review. Chapters two and three deal with the results obtained
by use of indirect techniques for measuring child mortality by
Coalle and Trussell. Chapter four on the other hand discusses
the results obtained from a multivariate analysis to determine
the possible determinants of childhood mortalty in Kenya.
Chapter five finally deals with summary and policy implications
for further research.
Using the Coale-Trussell method, the study has shown
that there exists differential infant and child mortality .,
levels in Kenya. Among the socio-economic variables that we
considered, mortality is low when a mother has achieved high
level of formal education compared t'O when she has low or no
education. Mort.al ity is also lower for the children whose
fathers work in gainful employment outside farms compared to
those whose fathers work in farms or do not work at all. The
Study also shows that mortality is lower for the children whose
mothers are urban residents, married in monogamous unions,
have ever used a contraceptive method, and are currently wor king.
Mortality levels also differ along ethnic grounds and region
of residence.
In the multivariate analysis, the study has shown that
urban residence, attendance at maternity clinics, high formal
education for mothers and gainful employment for fathers are
the most important determinants of mortality in Ken~ a.
We therefore recommend that, the prospect of reducing
mortality levels relies on the implementation of policies aimed
at not only equitable distribution of the benefits of socioeconomic
development among the population, but also gi v ing
first preferance to high mortality areas. In this context. we
also feel that the rural population should be encouraged to
make proper use of available medical services so as to avoid
unnecessary deaths at infancy and early childhood. | en |
