Uasin Gishu Exceeds National Averages in Health and Water Access, KDHS 2022 Reveals

Uasin Gishu – The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has recently released the findings of the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) in Uasin Gishu County. The survey, which examined key indicators such as household characteristics, fertility, family planning, maternal and child health, nutrition, malaria, and gender-based violence, showed that Uasin Gishu surpassed national averages in several areas.

According to Kenya News Agency, Uasin Gishu recorded a higher percentage of households with access to at least basic drinking water services at 79 percent, compared to the national average of 68 percent. The county’s total fertility rate stood at 3.1 percent, slightly lower than the national rate of 3.4 percent. In terms of maternal and child health, births delivered by a skilled provider in Uasin Gishu were at 96 percent, exceeding the national average of 89 percent. Additionally, the county had a higher percentage of households with access to an insecticide-treated net (ITN) for malaria at 74 percent, well above the national average of 50 percent.

However, the county faced challenges in gender-based violence, with higher rates of physical violence experienced by women aged 15 to 49 years, at 42 percent compared to the national average of 34 percent. The rate of women who have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological/emotional violence by a partner in the last 12 months was also higher in Uasin Gishu at 29 percent, slightly above the national average of 28 percent.

Madam Rosemary Bowen, the KNBS Social Statistics Senior Manager and team lead for the North Rift region, stated during the KDHS County Dissemination Workshop in Eldoret that the survey’s purpose was to provide current information on socio-economic, demographic, nutrition, and health indicators. She highlighted the survey’s role in planning, monitoring, and evaluating various health programs and policies, including its relevance to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bowen emphasized the survey’s significance in guiding service improvement plans for Uasin Gishu and the country. She also reiterated the need to address gender-based violence and urged communities to adopt peaceful ways of settling family disputes.

KNBS Director for Statistical Coordination and Methods, Benjamin Avusevwa, advocated for more collaborations with research experts from universities and research institutions to enhance survey findings. Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale lauded the KDHS findings as crucial for government decision-making and planning. He acknowledged the need for continuous improvement despite the county’s impressive performance in several indicators.

The KDHS 2022, conducted by KNBS in collaboration with various national and international partners, marks the 7th iteration of the survey, following previous ones in 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008-09, and 2014.