How Traditions On Newly Born Infants Influence Infant Mortality In Butula Sub-County, Busia County, Kenya
Publication Date
1/1/2020Author
Type
ArticleMetadata
Show full item record
Abstract/ Overview
In most developing countries of the world high infant mortality is still a major concern that has been recognized as an issue that warrants serious attention. In Kenya, cultural factors like emphasis on large families are associated with higher infant mortality. Infants lost through death cannot be recovered and the investment put in place for them by the family and government goes to waste. The objective of this paper was to assess how tradition under which an infant is born influenced infant mortality in Butula Sub-county of Busia County. The average national infant mortality rate in Kenya is 37 deaths per 1000 live births, the world average is 30.1 deaths per 1000 live births and that of Butula sub-county is 67deaths per a thousand live births which is very high. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was all mothers of child bearing age in Butula Sub-county who were 26,362 in number being equal to number of households in the sub-county. The sampling frame was all the households in the sub-county. The sampling unit was every mother in the household. Both probability sampling and non-probability sampling was used in the study. Instruments for data collection were questionnaires and observation check lists. Data collected included both primary and secondary. Data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics mainly frequency distribution in form of tables, and percentages. Analyzed data was presented using statistical frequency tables. The findings revealed that modern methods of caring for infants as opposed to traditional methods lowered infant mortality. Government should educate and encourage people to use modern methods of caring for infants.