Following the COVID-19 Pandemic, The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) has released a report offering insights into the state of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) in Kenya. The report sheds light on the progress and challenges faced in the aftermath of the pandemic. The initiative, dubbed the “Back-on-Track” project, aims to realign Kenya with the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) targets, whose progress may have stalled during the pandemic.
The project evaluated key healthcare indicators in MNCH, including child immunization rates, antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and modern contraception usage among women and sexually active adolescent girls.
Data for these indicators was collected through the use of a combination of Health Management Information Systems (HMIS), Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), and Geographic Information System data, the findings offer a comprehensive analysis of Kenya’s MNCH services.
Dr. Edward Serem, Head of the Division of Reproductive and Maternal Health at Kenya’s Ministry of Health, underscored the importance of AFIDEP’s data in addressing gaps in healthcare. “We must take these findings seriously as health professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders. Today’s dissemination workshop is more than just an event to share data—it is a crucial step in translating evidence into action. The findings that will be presented today serve as a mirror to reflect on what we have achieved and a roadmap for what we need to do to meet our national and global health targets.”
The project showed findings on the state of the kenyan healthcare systems especially accessibility of MNCH services during the pandemic, it showed that national child immunization coverage remained largely resilient with only eight counties experiencing a significant decline in antenatal care visits and a few others showing a decrease in skilled birth attendance.
These disparities while minor still underscore the need for more resilient health systems that can withstand future crises. The research indicates substantial variations in maternal and child healthcare access at sub-national levels, with disruptions most prominent in underserved regions across Kenya.
The report also showed Kenya’s shining areas as well as its shortcomings, Kenya has made significant progress in the reduction of neonatal and under-five mortality rates and an increase in the demand for family planning satisfied through modern contraceptives, which has reached nearly 75 per cent by 2022. However, challenges remain, particularly in reducing maternal mortality and improving comprehensive vaccination coverage and antenatal care services.
The project lead, Dr. Michael Chipeta, emphasized the need for data driven planning, “Back-on-Track builds a data-driven roadmap of essential interventions that can truly transform lives on a large scale. By prioritizing the availability, accessibility, quality, and utilization of MNCH services, we aim to address critical challenges in Kenya and drive meaningful progress toward achieving SDG 3.”
The systemic issues affecting Kenya’s health sector, including funding shortfalls and data quality, were also highlighted in the findings. AFIDEP’s findings emphasized that achieving meaningful improvements MNCH requires not only increased investment but also a commitment to enhancing data infrastructure. Strengthening HMIS, DHS and utilizing digital tools to capture reliable and accurate data that informs intervention strategies.
“Effective health interventions are built on accurate, timely data that reflects realities on the ground. This evidence strengthens our ability to enact impactful, life-saving policies.” Dr. Serem added.
Terming the findings by AFIDEP as a ‘roadmap’ to 2030 Dr. Serem called for collaboration to ensure that Kenya stays on track to achieve its SD3 goals,
