Socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors associated with under-five mortality among children in Kenya: analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey
Abstract Background Under-five mortality remains a critical public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Kenya. Despite recent declines in mortality rates, Kenya continues to face a high burden of child deaths due to preventable or treatable conditions s...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05863-7 |
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| author | Isaac Isiko Emmanuel Chiebuka Jacob Aaron Mwesigwa Haron Olot Lenz Nwachinemere Okoro Jackson Micheal Asingwire Manankong Jane Precious Izunwanne Emmanuel Asher Ikwara Sharon Chioma Ajudua Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami Michael Yaw Amoakoh Nisat Khan Queen |
| author_facet | Isaac Isiko Emmanuel Chiebuka Jacob Aaron Mwesigwa Haron Olot Lenz Nwachinemere Okoro Jackson Micheal Asingwire Manankong Jane Precious Izunwanne Emmanuel Asher Ikwara Sharon Chioma Ajudua Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami Michael Yaw Amoakoh Nisat Khan Queen |
| author_sort | Isaac Isiko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Under-five mortality remains a critical public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Kenya. Despite recent declines in mortality rates, Kenya continues to face a high burden of child deaths due to preventable or treatable conditions such as pneumonia, malaria, and malnutrition. This study aimed to assess the predictors of under-five mortality in Kenya using the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) to inform evidence-based interventions and policies. Methods This cross-sectional study utilised the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) dataset, focusing on variables from women’s and household questionnaires relevant to under-five mortality. Data were cleaned and analysed using STATA 17 software. Descriptive statistics, univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed at p < 0.05 with 95% confidence intervals, accounting for the complex survey design. Results A total of 19,530 children under five years were included in the analysis, with 694 reported deaths. Second-born twins had a significantly higher mortality risk than first-born twins (AOR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05–0.68), and mothers using modern contraceptives had 3.31 times higher odds of child mortality compared to those using folkloric methods (AOR = 3.31, 95% CI: 1.97–5.55). Mothers with 1–4 antenatal care (ANC) visits had 2.55 times higher odds of child mortality (AOR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.04–6.23) compared to those with no visits. Mothers with two or three births in the last five years had increased mortality odds (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.26–5.32; AOR = 6.15, 95% CI: 1.57–24.03, respectively), highlighting the risks of short birth intervals. Conclusion This study provides important insights into the factors influencing child mortality in Kenya. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions, such as scaling up Kangaroo Mother Care for twins, integrating family planning counselling into Kenya’s Linda Mama program to promote optimal birth spacing, and improving ANC quality to address high-risk pregnancies. Our research contributes to the broader understanding of child mortality determinants and offers a foundation for future studies aimed at mitigating this critical public health issue. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-adc69ddc6b8b41779ddfd5ee6edf0025 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-adc69ddc6b8b41779ddfd5ee6edf00252025-08-20T03:04:07ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312025-07-0125111610.1186/s12887-025-05863-7Socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors associated with under-five mortality among children in Kenya: analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health surveyIsaac Isiko0Emmanuel Chiebuka Jacob1Aaron Mwesigwa2Haron Olot3Lenz Nwachinemere Okoro4Jackson Micheal Asingwire5Manankong Jane Precious Izunwanne6Emmanuel Asher Ikwara7Sharon Chioma Ajudua8Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami9Michael Yaw Amoakoh10Nisat Khan Queen11School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityInternational Society for Data Science and Analytics (ISDSA)Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marwadi UniversitySchool of Pharmacy, Kampala International UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine, David Umahi Federal University Teaching HospitalDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marwadi UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Hygiene, University of BueaChild Health & Development Centre, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityCollege of Medicine, University of LagosGlobal Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical MedicineBawku West District Health Directorate, Ghana Health ServiceDepartment of Population and Public Health, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State UniversityAbstract Background Under-five mortality remains a critical public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Kenya. Despite recent declines in mortality rates, Kenya continues to face a high burden of child deaths due to preventable or treatable conditions such as pneumonia, malaria, and malnutrition. This study aimed to assess the predictors of under-five mortality in Kenya using the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) to inform evidence-based interventions and policies. Methods This cross-sectional study utilised the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) dataset, focusing on variables from women’s and household questionnaires relevant to under-five mortality. Data were cleaned and analysed using STATA 17 software. Descriptive statistics, univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed at p < 0.05 with 95% confidence intervals, accounting for the complex survey design. Results A total of 19,530 children under five years were included in the analysis, with 694 reported deaths. Second-born twins had a significantly higher mortality risk than first-born twins (AOR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05–0.68), and mothers using modern contraceptives had 3.31 times higher odds of child mortality compared to those using folkloric methods (AOR = 3.31, 95% CI: 1.97–5.55). Mothers with 1–4 antenatal care (ANC) visits had 2.55 times higher odds of child mortality (AOR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.04–6.23) compared to those with no visits. Mothers with two or three births in the last five years had increased mortality odds (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.26–5.32; AOR = 6.15, 95% CI: 1.57–24.03, respectively), highlighting the risks of short birth intervals. Conclusion This study provides important insights into the factors influencing child mortality in Kenya. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions, such as scaling up Kangaroo Mother Care for twins, integrating family planning counselling into Kenya’s Linda Mama program to promote optimal birth spacing, and improving ANC quality to address high-risk pregnancies. Our research contributes to the broader understanding of child mortality determinants and offers a foundation for future studies aimed at mitigating this critical public health issue.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05863-7Under-five mortalityChild healthKenyaKenya demographic and health survey (KDHS)2022 |
| spellingShingle | Isaac Isiko Emmanuel Chiebuka Jacob Aaron Mwesigwa Haron Olot Lenz Nwachinemere Okoro Jackson Micheal Asingwire Manankong Jane Precious Izunwanne Emmanuel Asher Ikwara Sharon Chioma Ajudua Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami Michael Yaw Amoakoh Nisat Khan Queen Socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors associated with under-five mortality among children in Kenya: analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey BMC Pediatrics Under-five mortality Child health Kenya Kenya demographic and health survey (KDHS) 2022 |
| title | Socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors associated with under-five mortality among children in Kenya: analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey |
| title_full | Socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors associated with under-five mortality among children in Kenya: analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey |
| title_fullStr | Socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors associated with under-five mortality among children in Kenya: analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors associated with under-five mortality among children in Kenya: analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey |
| title_short | Socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors associated with under-five mortality among children in Kenya: analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey |
| title_sort | socioeconomic demographic and environmental factors associated with under five mortality among children in kenya analysis of the 2022 kenya demographic and health survey |
| topic | Under-five mortality Child health Kenya Kenya demographic and health survey (KDHS) 2022 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05863-7 |
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