Last update: June 20, 2008
KENYA
13. Under-five mortality rate
Data source and type Acronym
1969 census (indirect) Cen69
1977 National Demographic Survey (indirect) DS77i
1977-1978 Kenya Fertility Survey (direct) WFS77d
1977-1978 Kenya Fertility Survey (indirect) WFS77i
1979 census (indirect) Cen79
1983 Kenya National Demographic Survey (indirect) DS83i
1988 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (direct) DHS88d
1988 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (indirect) DHS88i
1989 census (indirect) Cen89
1993 Demographic and Health Survey (direct) DHS93d
1993 Demographic and Health Survey (indirect) DHS93i
1998 Demographic and Health Survey (direct) DHS98d
1998 Demographic and Health Survey (indirect) DHS98i
2000 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (indirect) MICS00i
2003 Demographic and Health Survey (direct) DHS03d
2003 Demographic and Health Survey (indirect) DHS03i
KENYA - UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY
250
Under-five mortality rate (per 1000
200
150
births)
100
50
0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Year
Cen69 DS77i WFS77d WFS77i Cen79 DS83i
DHS88d DHS88i DHS93d DHS93i Cen89 DHS98i
DHS98d WDI DHS03d DHS03i M ICS00i
Direct estimates: Infant and under-five mortality rates are calculated from the data from a sample survey
that collects birth histories, with a mother being asked for information on the date of birth and, if relevant,
the age at death of every live-born child she has had. However, the collection of such information by
surveys is complex and requires high levels of interviewer quality and training. The surveys are therefore
quite expensive and can only cover small samples.
Indirect estimates: Indirectly, under-five mortality and infant mortality can be calculated by asking each
woman surveyed for very simple information: her age, the total number of children she has borne, and the
number of those children that have died. Indirect estimates adjust the proportions dead by age group of
mother for an estimated exposure distribution in order to arrive at pure measures of under-five mortality
and of reference dates for these measures. The information from the younger women gives under-five
mortality of more recent years whereas the information from the older women gives under-five mortality of
more distant years. The adjustment process assumes certain patterns of fertility and under-five mortality by
age (East, North, South, West model life tables), and results can be quite sensitive to the choices made.
WDI: Estimates used for World Development Indicators.
KENYA
14. Infant mortality rate
Data source and type Acronym
1969 census (indirect) Cen69
1977 National Demographic Survey (indirect) DS77i
1977-1978 Kenya Fertility Survey (direct) WFS77d
1977-1978 Kenya Fertility Survey (indirect) WFS77i
1979 census (indirect) Cen79
1983 Kenya National Demographic Survey (indirect) DS83i
1988 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (direct) DHS88d
1988 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (indirect) DHS88i
1989 census (indirect) Cen89
1993 Demographic and Health Survey (direct) DHS93d
1993 Demographic and Health Survey (indirect) DHS93i
1998 Demographic and Health Survey (direct) DHS98d
1998 Demographic and Health Survey (indirect) DHS98i
2000 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (indirect) MICS00i
2003 Demographic and Health Survey (direct) DHS03d
2003 Demographic and Health Survey (indirect) DHS03i
KENYA - INFANT MORTALITY
160
140
Infant mortality rate (per 1000
120
100
births)
80
60
40
20
0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Year
Cen69 DS77i WFS77d WFS77i Cen79 DS83i
DHS88d DHS88i DHS93d DHS93i Cen89 DHS98i
DHS98d WDI DHS03d DHS03i M ICS00i
Direct estimates: Infant and under-five mortality rates are calculated from the data from a sample survey
that collects birth histories, with a mother being asked for information on the date of birth and, if relevant,
the age at death of every live-born child she has had. However, the collection of such information by
surveys is complex and requires high levels of interviewer quality and training. The surveys are therefore
quite expensive and can only cover small samples.
Indirect estimates: Indirectly, under-five mortality and infant mortality can be calculated by asking each
woman surveyed for very simple information: her age, the total number of children she has borne, and the
number of those children that have died. Indirect estimates adjust the proportions dead by age group of
mother for an estimated exposure distribution in order to arrive at pure measures of under-five mortality
and of reference dates for these measures. The information from the younger women gives under-five
mortality of more recent years whereas the information from the older women gives under-five mortality of
more distant years. The adjustment process assumes certain patterns of fertility and under-five mortality by
age (East, North, South, West model life tables), and results can be quite sensitive to the choices made.
WDI: Estimates used for World Development Indicators.