Determinants of Infant Mortality in Rural Kenya

Findings of 2008/09 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey reveal that one in every 19 live births dies before age one. The most striking observation is the reversal in infant mortality based on type of place of residence. The report indicates that, unlike what preceding surveys reported, infant mortality is high in urban than in rural Kenya. This study used Cox regression analysis to examine the determinants of infant mortality in rural Kenya. Analytical results show that region, maternal age, birth order/preceding birth interval, and source of drinking water are significantly related to post-neonatal mortality in rural Kenya. Further, occupation of the mother, region, birth order/preceding birth interval, and source of drinking water were found to be significantly related to infant mortality in rural Kenya. Unlike in the case of post-neonatal mortality where births in Nyanza were found to be 154 percent more likely to die relative to those in Central, the study found Nyanza residence not to be significantly related to infant mortality. The study findings indicate that health policy initiatives meant to kindle family planning methods that shall result in increased birth spacing and reduced higher order births are welcome in the quest to reduce infant mortality further. Seemingly, maternal education is losing grip on early childhood mortality. Future research should focus on bringing out an understanding of the role of maternal education on infant mortality. Key words: post-neonate, infant, mortality, rural Keny

An Exploration of The Role Played by Men During Pregnancy and Childbirth in Kenya: A Case of Kitui West Sub County

According to gender mainstreaming principles, male involvement during pregnancy and childbirth is a pivotal strategy for improving birth outcomes. The objective of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the role played by husbands and fiancées during pregnancy and childbirth. To gather data, 135 Antenatal care (ANC) attendees, 30 non-ANC-attendees, 5 nurses and 8 TBAs were interviewed from 10 randomly selected health facilities from 18 health facilities that offer comprehensive health care. This information was collected between 2017 and 2018 in Kitui West- Sub-County, Kenya and was collected through asking two pertinent questions; a) Whether expectant women sought permission before choosing place of delivery, b) Who determined final place of delivery. The study utilized quantitative and qualitative methods of study. Analysis of the study was done by content. From the results; 50 percent of Final place of delivery indicated that; 64 percent out of 135 ANC-attendees delivered in a health facility, 34 percent out of this number were encouraged by significant others. Fifty six percent out of the significant ones were husbands who directed their wives to deliver in a health facility. Out of 49 ANC-attendees who delivered at home, 36.7 percent were influenced by significant others. Out of these significant others, 27 percent were husbands. On the other hand, 6 respondents out of 30 non- ANC-attendees, delivered at home having been instructed by their husbands

Resilience In The Face Of Starvation: Coping Strategies for Food Security among Women in Kenya

Food insecurity in Kenya has been a big challenge amongst many households. In the pursuit of family survival in situations where the family granaries are empty, women are known to bear the most responsibility in ensuring that family members do not starve to death. The key question is how they cope in such situations despite high poverty levels and marginalization in society. The framework of focus was Article 43 (1)(c) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), which states that “everybody should be free from hunger at all times, and have food of acceptable quality”. Nevertheless, despite this recognition, more than 10 million Kenyans continue to experience chronic hunger –some to the point of starvation and death, particularly in the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. This paper, therefore, seeks to examine the coping strategies adopted by women when threatened by food shortages. It also explores the models of resilience and adaptation to hunger amongst 597 women in 15 counties in Kenya. The data was collected by the African Women‟s Study Centre (University of Nairobi) using both quantitative and qualitative methods with a key purpose to document their experiences in food security. The results revealed that women depend on various coping strategies and it is anticipated that these findings can be used to inform future policies and programmes for interventions on food insecurit

Traditional Birth Attendants and Childbirth in Kenya: A Case of Kitui West Sub County

The first objective of this research was to explore the role played by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) during pregnancy and childbirth. The second objective was to establish perspectives of pregnant women regarding the role played by TBAs during childbirth. Eight TBAs out of 12 were selected using simple random sampling technique. These 8 TBAs were drawn from the environs of 10 sampled health facilities. To calculate the sample size for the pregnant women to be interviewed about their perspectives towards TBAs from the 10 sampled health facilities , this formula was used, 1230 x 15/100=184.5 rounded up to 185. According to 2009 census, the population of women at child bearing age (15 – 49 years) was 1230 in Kitui West Sub-County (KNBS et al.; 2009). The final sample size for pregnant women was 187 as shown under the discussion on sampling techniques. An in depth individual interview guide was used to gather information from the 8 TBAs and 165 pregnant women. Unstructured interview guide was used to gather information from 22 respondents who formed focus group discussion (FGD). To make a meaning from the raw data, it was transcribed and emerging themes and patterns according the objective of the study were picked. The Chi-square test analysis showed that more than a half of the women preferred to deliver at home assisted by a TBA. (χ2=1.572; df=2; p=0.036) where p=0.05. This was confirmed by the fact that 37 percent out of 135 respondents who attended ANC clinic and 90 percent out of 30 respondents who did not attend ANC clinic delivered at home assisted by TBAs

Migration Theories Versus Remittance Behaviour of Migrant Women in Kenya

The linkages between development and migration have received increasing attention by international institutions and donor agencies alike. With approximately half of all migrants being women, the impact of financial and social remittances is presumably mediated by gender relations. Interestingly, women‟s socio-economic contributions and unique experiences have not been given the prominence they deserve, especially in migration and remittance studies. Women have always been present in migratory flows, traditionally as spouses, daughters and dependents of male migrants.However, in the most recent decades there has been an increase in women's autonomous migratory behaviour.Notwithstanding other factors such as the migrants‟ marital and migration status, it has been argued that gender affects the volume of remittances, with women sending back home more than men do. Given the fact that migration has reached beyond national boundaries, the significance of remittances as a key driver of national development, especially in developing countries such as Kenya, cannot be ignored. This paper will attempt to make a theoretical case that, even though no substantive data may exist, current thinking isthat migrant women are potential agents of development via pecuniary remittances. They do not only send remittances but also return to their country of origin with newly acquired skills and valuable knowledge. Indeed, previous studies have established that Kenya and Nigeria are among the leading countries in sending money through wire services. But most studies on remittance do not take a gender approach and have not questioned the decision-making processes involved in remittance behaviour. The migrant women‟s remittance behaviour in Kenya will be reviewed based on a broader social development perspective as it relates to issues of education, health, social welfare and political participation.Gendered aspects of remittances will also be approached from the senders‟ as well as recipients‟ perspective. The theoretical findings will contribute towards building knowledge in women‟s experiences as potential agents of change and development as well as in the shaping of feminist perspective in remittance studies in Africa

Food Security Score for Kenya

Article 43, Section (1)(c) of the Bill of Rights of the Kenya Constitution (2010) states that: “Every person has the right to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality. To monitor progress and targeting interventions towards realization of this goal, an easyto-use, but scientifically sound measure of food security is required.” The objective of this paper is to construct such measure that will subsequently constitute a Food Security Score (henceforth, FSS) for Kenya. This Food Security Score will enable the classification of the food security status of each county in the country. This FSS study was nested within a crosssectional baseline study conducted by the African Women’s Studies Centre (AWSC). The study had a representative sample of 4,129 households drawn from 20 randomly selected counties within six of Kenya’s Agro-ecological zones. The food security score study consulted one adult respondent in each household on the experiences, practices and behaviours of household members that have a bearing on food insecurity, including concerns such as: (a) not having enough food to feed the entire household; (b) cutting back on meal rations because of insufficient amounts of food stuffs; (c) lack of resources to buy food, and (d) going to bed hungry because of an absence of food to feed the household. Out of the 4129 households surveyed, 4060 responded to all four key questions selected to compute the FSS for Kenya. The results of the study revealed that whereas 67 percent of Kenyan households are food secure, 30 percent are food insecure, meaning that they lack access to enough food to sustain an active, healthy life for all members of their households. From the category of the food insecure group, a total of 9 percent are chronically food insecure. Based on this FSS, food security varied significantly amongst various counties and agro ecological zones. Agro-ecological zone (p-value<0.001) and county (p-value<0.001) are significantly associated with food security. Counties with higher rates of food insecurity than the nationally defined levels are mainly found in the coastal lowlands, inland lowlands and upper midlands agro-ecological zones. In line with the Constitution of Kenya (2010), efforts towards achieving food security need to focus on ensuring that all Kenyans are food secure. Although the two variables relating to the specific agro-ecological zones and counties significantly impact on food security in Kenya, these are not amenable to interventions. Hence, they can be used to target the most vulnerable regions and monitor improvements after implementing appropriate interventions to ameliorate food security. However, further research is recommended to validate the FSS regionally and internationally in order to improve its universality of interpretation

The Prospects of Enhancing Food Security in Kenya through the Demographic Dividend

Kenya is starting to enter its window demographic dividend, under the assumption of declining fertility rates over the next several decades. The country has the opportunity to exploit the first demographic dividend by attracting and retaining youth in farming. However, studies show that Kenya is deriving very little demographic dividend in agriculture with an increasing proportion of the country’s working age population being inactive. The main objective of this paper is to theoretically examine the demographic dividend, and how this window of opportunity can be utilized to enhancing food security in Kenya. Specifically, it examines the relationship between population growth and increasing food security, with reference to theories against, supporting and neutral. It further, describes Kenya’s youth bulge, and how the bulge can be utilized to enhance food security. We also identify a number of mechanisms that can be applicable to propel the youth for food security in Kenya. The paper benefited immensely from secondary data sources and desk review for evidenc