"During the five to nine-year period before the survey, the neonatal mortality rate was 25 deaths per 1,000 live births, the infant mortality rate was 38 deaths per 1,000 live births, and the under-five mortality rate was 46 deaths per 1,000 live births," reads a section of the report.
"Between the 1989 KDHS and the 2022 KDHS, childhood mortality peaked in the five years before the 2003 KDHS and has since declined steadily. Under-five child mortality declined from 115 deaths per 1,000 live births in the five-year period before 2003 to 41 deaths per 1,000 live births in the period before 2022."
The survey noted that under-five mortality rate is higher among children born to mothers with primary level education than among children born to mothers with more than secondary education at 49 deaths against 32 respectively.
Also, the survival of infants and children depends in part on the demographic and biological characteristics of their mothers, according to the survey. "Typically, the probability of dying in infancy is much greater among children born to mothers who are too young (under age 18) or too old (over age 34), children born after a short birth interval (less than 24 months after the preceding birth), and children born to mothers of high parity (more than three children)," added the report.
Meanwhile, hospital deliveries have gradually increased over the years. According to the survey, the percentage of live births occurring in a health facility has more than doubled to 88 per cent in 2022
Health facility
At least 97 per cent of live births in urban areas are delivered in a health facility, compared with 83 per cent in rural areas. "The percentage of deliveries in a health facility increases with mother's level of education, from 50 per cent for mothers with no education to 99 per cent for mothers with more than the secondary level of education," noted the report.
"The percentage of deliveries in a health facility ranges from 50 per cent in both Turkana and Mandera to 99 per cent in both Nairobi City and Nyeri counties."
Unicef Kenya representative Shaheen Nilofer in a speech read by Dominic Stolarow said the 2022 KDHS underscored some positive indications that the quality of life in Kenya continues to improve.
Meanwhile, childhood vaccination rate has increased with at least 80 per cent of children aged between 12 and 23 months fully vaccinated against all basic antigens, and 55 per cent fully vaccinated according to the data.
Kisii and Tharaka Nithi recorded the highest number of children fully vaccinated, where more than eight in 10 children aged between 12 and 23 months are vaccinated.