| dc.description.abstract | The fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG 4) aims to improve the health of children,
which is a critical measure of a country’s level of development, apart from it being a
fundamental right. This goal has two important indicators that are used to measure
improvement in child health; infant and under-five mortality. While major progress has been
made in reducing infant and child mortality rates, one in every 19 babies born in Kenya will
die before their first birthday (NCAPD, 2011). The objectives of the study was to examine
the influence of the caregiver’s socio-demographic characteristics on health status of children
under-five years in Njoguini, to assess the influence of household’s socio-economic factors
on health status of children under-five years in Njoguini, to examine the influence of
immunization against childhood diseases on health status of children under-five years in
Njoguini and to assess the influence of maternal health care on health status of children
under-five years children in Njoguini. The target population was households that have
children under-five years; where the caregiver (mother or any other female in the households
taking care of the child) was the eligible respondent. The study utilized both qualitative and
quantitative research design and randomized sampling. Primary data were collected by
structured questionnaire from 248 households, while KIIs and FGDs were conducted by used
of a structured guide. The quantitative data were coded, entered and analysed using the
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using percentages and mean scores to come up
with data models to help in meeting the study objectives. Qualitative data were typed,
transcribed, and manually analyzed based on study objectives. Results from the data
collected indicated that the health status of children under-five years is indeed influenced by
socio-demographic characteristics of households, household’s socio-economic factors,
immunization against childhood diseases and maternal healthcare. This research therefore
recommends: greater efforts need to be put in place by the government to ensure provision of
affordable water; nutrition education should be strengthened to improving the breastfeeding
practice of mothers; there is need to enhance employment of caregivers by enhancing income
generating activities; the government should work towards ensuring there is universal health
care; and household should undertake poultry and livestock keeping. | en_US |
