Childhood Disability Risk Factors in Kenya: Impact of Poverty and Other Socio-demographics

Abstract

The overarching purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of maternal and infant/child health indices that have an established link to childhood disability (CHD) and their association with socio-economic status (SES) in Kenya. Data were drawn from the 2008/2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. Descriptive and weighted Pearson’s chi-square tests were conducted to determine the characteristics of respondents and differences in the proportion of the disability risk factors by place of residence. Logistic regression analyses were then conducted to evaluate the association between SES and select CHD-related factors. Results showed that almost all the disability risk factors were more prevalent and statistically significant among rural residents compared to their urban counterparts. Stratified univariate and multivariate analyses showed differential associations between SES and several disability risk factors by area of resident. This study has provided empirical evidence connecting poverty with several known disability risk factors, i.e. maternal and infant/child health indices.

Keywords:

• childhood disability
• Kenya
• low-income countries
• marginalisation of disability issues
• maternal health issues
• poverty
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

There was no research funding for this study, and no restrictions have been imposed on free access to, or publication of, the research data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.