Health Outcomes
Deep diving into the KDHS 2022 survey: successes, failures, and the massive equity gaps.
Data Sources:World BankIMFKenya National Bureau of Statistics
"Is Kenya winning the battle against child mortality? The data says yes—but the win is incomplete. While we've cut overall deaths by 64%, the first month of life (neonatal) remains the most dangerous, now accounting for over 50% of child deaths."
Decades of Survival (1989-2022)
Deaths per 1,000 live births. Notice the dramatic decoupling of Under-5 and Neonatal rates.
The Survival Dividend
In 2003, 1 in 9 children died before their 5th birthday. Today, it is 1 in 24. This is one of Kenya's greatest public health triumphs, driven by immunizations and malaria control.
The First 28 Days
Neonatal deaths haven't fallen as fast as post-neonatal deaths. To get to the next level, Kenya needs to move beyond "vaccines and bed nets" into specialized NICU and high-quality maternal emergency care.