Kenya Demographic Health Survey kicks off to collect national health data

KENYA – Kenya has launched national demographic health surveys to provide data for a wide range of monitoring and impact evaluation indicators in the areas of population, health and nutrition.

The Kenya Demographic Health Surveys (KDHS) aims to gather health data in a 6-month long survey which will cost KES 997 million (US$8,774,864) starting from 17th February 2022.

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other institutions is planning to conduct the 2022 KDHS in selected areas in the country for a period of about six months.

KDHS is an important source of data and is a key source of population-based health indicators which are critical in decision making and determine the direction Kenya takes in implementing health programmes.

The information collected will provide critical data points to determine the level of progress made in achieving set programmatic targets in the health sector such as infant mortality rate and childhood vaccination coverage to name a few.

The health surveys will obtain information on COVID-19 vaccination, a diverse range of non-communicable diseases and Universal Health Coverage.

For the first time, KDHS will collect data on early childhood development and mental health.

The Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth revealed that the survey was set for 2019 but had to be postponed because the National Population Census that was conducted in the same year.

“The survey was pushed further forward because of COVID-19 pandemic thus taking a seven-year break instead of five,” he said.

He asserted that the health indicators will be disaggregated to the county level to enable the devolved Health Departments to formulate health policies and strategies that are aligned to their specific priorities.

The exercise comes after the successful completion of survey personnel training which was a 28-day program in the planning cycle for the 2022 health surveys.

“We have tested data collection tools, well-trained survey personnel and an entire behind-the-scenes team that is competent to handle all aspects of survey, monitoring and logistics management,” he added.

“Health, child health and immunization, nutrition, HIV/AIDS and TB and gender-based violence among others will be included in various topics of the surveys,” he noted.

The exercise is aimed a monitoring demographic and health related policies and programmes to guide the government in the planning, implementation and assessment of population programmes at the grassroots and national level.

Some Kenyan counties have already kicked off the 2022 health surveys such as Laikipia and Siaya counties.

Laikipia County targets 34 cluster areas in the region

Meanwhile, Laikipia County has launched the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey targeting 34 cluster areas in the region.

Among the cluster areas to be sampled in Laikipia County include Wiyumiririe, Likii Gathinji, Segera Gate, Kisumu Ndogo, Baraka, Cheetah and Majengo.

Laikipia County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri appealed to residents from the selected clusters to cooperate with the data collectors and share useful information to make the survey a success.

“This is a very important national exercise that is conducted every five years as part of the build-up of the national census that is done after every ten years and the data collected is confidential,” said Kanyiri.

The County Commissioner said the exercise will involve community health volunteers, assistant chiefs, chiefs and assistant county commissioners.

“There will be public meetings with the residents from the selected areas to sensitize them about the survey,” added Kanyiri.

Kanyiri noted that the data collected will inform the decision makers on planning for health services, water and infrastructure.

The survey will be seeking to gather information on demographic and socio-economic characteristics, Covid-19, contraception, pregnancy and postnatal care, child immunization, HIV/AIDS among others.

Liked this article? Sign up to receive our regular email newsletters, focused on Africa and World’s healthcare industry, directly into your inbox. SUBSCRIBE HERE