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Influence of Maternal Education on Child Immunization and Stunting in Kenya

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Abstract

In 2003, the child mortality rate in Kenya was 115/1000 children compared to 88/1000 average for Sub-Saharan African countries. This study sought to determine the effect of maternal education on immunization (n = 2,169) and nutritional status (n = 5,949) on child’s health. Cross-sectional data, Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS)-2003 were used for data analyses. 80% of children were stunted and 49% were immunized. After controlling for confounding, overall, children born to mothers with only a primary education were 2.17 times more likely to be fully immunized compared to those whose mothers lacked any formal education, P < 0.001. For nutrition, unadjusted results, children born to mothers with primary education were at 94% lower odds of having stunted growth compared to mothers with no primary education, P < 0.01. Policy implications for child health in Kenya should focus on increasing health knowledge among women for better child health outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education Theory and Policy, Pennsylvania State University, 300 Rackley Building University Park, Pennsylvania, PA, 16802, USA

    B. A. Abuya

  2. Education Research Program, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Shelter Afrique Center, Longonot Road, PO Box 10787, 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya

    B. A. Abuya

  3. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA

    E. O. Onsomu

  4. The School of Health Sciences, Winston Salem State University, 601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Winston Salem, NC, 27110, USA

    E. O. Onsomu

  5. Health Systems and Challenges, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Shelter Afrique Center, Longonot Road, PO Box 10787, 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya

    J. K. Kimani

  6. Department of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts, Johnson C. Smith University, 100 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC, 28216, USA

    D. Moore

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  1. B. A. Abuya
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  2. E. O. Onsomu
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  3. J. K. Kimani
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  4. D. Moore
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Correspondence to B. A. Abuya.

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Abuya, B.A., Onsomu, E.O., Kimani, J.K. et al. Influence of Maternal Education on Child Immunization and Stunting in Kenya. Matern Child Health J 15, 1389–1399 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0670-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0670-z

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