Variations in neonatal age segments mortality in Kenya’s malaria epidemiological zones by community uptake of iron-supplements and anti-malaria drugs during pregnancy: Analysis based on 2014 Kenya demographic and health survey

Introduction Although past studies have established that iron-supplements and anti-malaria drugs taken by mothers during pregnancy reduce the risk of neonatal deaths in high prone malaria areas, little is known about their impact on mortality risks in neonatal age segments in Kenya. The study objective was to analyse variations in neonatal age segments mortality rates by uptake of these two antenatal care services and determine their effects on the age segments mortality in Kenya’s malaria zones. Data and methods This study used data from the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). Survival status information for 20,794 children born less than 60 months prior to interview date and reported mothers’ uptake of iron-supplements and anti-malaria drugs during last pregnancy was analysed. Life table method was used to estimate mortality rates and Poisson multivariate regression models were fitted to determine relative risks of death for the study variables. Results The results show that variations in neonatal age segments mortality in Kenya’s malaria zones are statistically insignificant. The contributions of early neonatal (0 to 7 days) to neonatal mortality rate are 80% and 100% in low and high malaria zones, respectively. Combined high community uptake of iron-supplements and anti-malaria drugs during pregnancy reduce significantly mortality risk in late neonatal (8 days to less than one month) in all malaria zones when effects of other risk factors are controlled for. Conclusions The findings suggest that future decline in neonatal mortality in all Kenya’s malaria zones depend mainly on reduction of early neonatal mortality. High community uptake of iron-supplements and anti-malaria drugs during pregnancy has significant reduction effect on late neonatal mortality in all malaria zones. This study recommends improvement of future KDHS data quality, especially on care for small and sick neonates.