Child Survival, Poverty and Policy Options from DHS Surveys in Kenya: 1993-2003

This paper analyses multidimensional aspects of child poverty in Kenya. We carry out poverty and inequality comparisons for child survival and also use the parametric survival model to explain childhood mortality using DHS data. The results of poverty comparisons show that: children with the lowest probability of survival are from households with the lowest level of assets; and poverty orderings for child survival by assets are robust to the choice of the poverty line and to the measure of wellbeing. Inequality analysis suggests that there is less mortality inequality among children facing mortality than children who are better off. The survival model results show that child and maternal characteristics, and household assets are important correlates of childhood mortality. The results further show that health care services are crucial for child survival. Policy simulations suggest that there is potential for making some progress in reducing mortality, but the ERS and MDG targets cannot be achieved.Child survival, multidimensional poverty, inequality, stochastic dominance, childhood mortality, asset index, Kenya

Child Survival and Policy Options in Kenya: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys

Abstract: This paper investigates child survival in Kenya. We use survival analysis to explain childhood mortality and further simulate the impact of key policy variables on millennium development goals targets for mortality. The results show that favorable child and maternal characteristics, and household assets are associated with higher probability of survival at time t. The results further show that health care services are crucial for child survival. Policy simulations suggest that maternal education and use of modern contraception methods are key policy issues for child survival. The simulations further suggest that it is unlikely that the millennium development goals targets will be achieved