Determinants of Infant Mortality in Kenya - Analysis of Kenya DHS 2003 and 2008/9

Abstract: Infant mortality rate is considered as sensitive indicators of living standard and socio-economic conditions of a country. It remains a big challenge for the Kenyan Government due to the high infant mortality rates as she strives to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This paper examined and identified the important determinants of infant mortality in Kenya. The analysis will be based on the analytical framework by Mosley& Chen (1984) which take socio-economic, demographic as well biological factors into account. The logistic analysis will be used the micro level data from Kenya Demographic Survey 2003 and 2008/9. The infant mortality reduced during the periods between 2003 and 2008/9. The main results indicate that among the demographic factors mother’s age at first child birth is the important determinant for infant mortality. Proximate determinants such as length of breastfeeding and prenatal care are associated strongly with infant mortality. The importance of socio-economic determinants such as father’s occupation as well as region of residence in infant mortality is quite significant. It is only significantly that infants born to parents with a secondary or higher degree of education experience a lower risk of dying for the previous five year period before 2008/9.