Environmental Factors Perpetuating Infant Mortality Rate in Chepalungu Sub-County, Bomet County, Kenya

Jane Chepkurui Mutai & Hezron O. Agili
Faculty of Physical and Biological Sciences, Tom Mboya University, Kenya
Email: janec3176@gmail.com/ hagili@tmu.ac.ke

Abstract: Abstract: It has been observed that infant mortality in Chepalungu Sub County, Bomet County is higher at 57 per 1000 compared with the National average of 54 per 1000. Therefore, to achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG) target of reducing infant mortality to 25 deaths per 1000 live births, the study conducted a descriptive survey research design to establish the factors perpetuating high infant mortality rates in Chepalungu Sub-County. Descriptive survey research design describes the distribution of and relationship among variables. The study targeted all household mothers in the reproductive ages 18-49 and key informants. Purposive and stratified simple random sampling techniques were used to select 381 mothers and 4 key informants. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. Quantitative data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and Chi-square test while qualitative data was coded, transcribed and organized thematically. The study concluded that environmental factors perpetuated and had a great bearing on infant health. Specifically, source of drinking χ2 = 38.442 (p < .001), safety of drinking water χ2 = 21.884 (p < .001), treating drinking water χ2 = 39.119 (p < .001), type of toilet facility χ2 = 36.268 (p < .001), washing hand after visiting toilet χ2 = 24.761 (p < .001) and type of cooking fuel χ2 = 18.040 (p = .021) had statistically significant difference. The study recommends the need to conduct an environmental education program targeting the mothers on the human waste disposal, safe drinking water and safe cooking fuel.