Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) conducted in 2022 has revealed that Nyamira County residents have embraced seeking professional reproductive health services and use of Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITN).
The Director at Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Mr. Collins Omondi while releasing comprehensive results of the 2022 KDHS survey to Nyamira County stakeholders observed that 93% of women delivered with an assistance of a skilled provider compared to that of the country which as at 89% unlike eight years ago 34% of women delivered at home countrywide.
“Majority of women have understood the importance of giving birth at health facilities and now give birth at various health facilities so that any birth complication can be intercepted early and newborn given maximum attention by professionals by detecting any health issue which can’t be detected when the mother delivered at home and helps reduce neonatal mortality rates,” Director Omondi said.
He pointed out that the survey however showed a wanting need in nutrition of some of these children because 6% of children under five years were overweight far much higher than the country’s level which is 3% and advised that the health practitioners should sensitize mothers on types of balanced meals which provide the right kind of balanced nutrients to their babies to nurture and bring up healthy children.
The survey indicated that Nyamira County is one of the Counties that has the highest access to Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) at 88% while across Kenya half of its population has access to an ITN. Nyamira County is classified as a malaria-endemic-prone area because it’s located among the highland epidemic-prone areas in the Nyanza region.
“County stakeholders need to work collaboratively to improve areas where the County is not doing so well comparatively to the national performance like access to at least basic drinking water services which is at 56% compared to that of the national level at 68%, teenage pregnancy where Nyamira rates at 16% compared to 16% at the national level, and sexual violence where Nyamira is 15% versus 13% at the national. There is room to improve in these areas and stakeholders must work as a team, consult, and put in place strategies that will improve sections of health where there are weaknesses.
The Acting County Executive Committee Member for Health, Benard Maina said the KNBS survey results were very crisp, clear, and comprehensive and will be very handy in guiding intervention mechanisms, policy formulation, and implementation for Nyamira County so that the health and well-being of our people is guaranteed.
The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KHDS) was the 7th survey conducted in Kenya designed to provide data for monitoring the country’s population and health situation. It provides up-to-date information on social demographic and health indicators for planning, policy formulation, and monitoring and evaluation of the country’s projects and programs.
By Deborah Bochere
