The role of immunisation on child health outcomes: a case of child mortality in Kenya

Type Thesis or Dissertation - Masters of Science in Health Economics and Policy
Title The role of immunisation on child health outcomes: a case of child mortality in Kenya
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2016
URL http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/98372/Oneko_The Role Of Immunisation On Child​Health Outcomes A Case Of Child Mortality In Kenya.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Abstract
Immunisation has proved as an economically sound human right approach to be provided to all
society members to mitigate against morbidity or fatalities. Despite the recognised benefits of
childhood immunization programmes, Kenya has realized limited gains in improving the health
of children, with many remaining unreached and prone to risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Based on these facts, it is important to understand empirically how immunisation uptake would
impact child health outcomes in Kenya. The study used the Kenya Demographic and Household
survey, 2014 which contains factors associated with child health outcomes (under-five mortality)
and full immunisation. The study employed the binary probit regression model in the
econometric estimation. The dependent variable used was under five child mortality reported
while the independent variable of interest was child immunisation (full) with other control
variables being the demographic; socio-economic factors and environmental factors and access
indicators. At 1%, 5% and 10% significance levels, the study findings revealed that
immunisation; being married, middle wealth quintile and richest wealth quintile; Hospital
delivery and central region were found to be statistically significant in determining under-five
child mortality. On the other hand age of the mother, education, residence, religion, occupation,
wealth index (except third and fifth), Antenatal visits, Mass media, Piped water source, Flush
toilets and regions (except central region) were shown to be statistically insignificant at all
significance levels. To control child mortality in Kenya, apart from reviewing existing policies
on maternal and child health, the study recommends to the government and other relevant
stakeholders to target new-born mothers to reduce inadequacies of children in a households
reaching full immunisation. This could be done through the creation of awareness through
churches and schools countrywide, on the consequences of failing to use immunisation,
especially among children under-five which could contribute to the increased incidence of
vaccine preventable diseases and prevalence of high child morbidity and mortality rates.

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