Infant mortality is estimated at 91/1,000 live births in North Eastern Province and 61/1000 live births in Rift Valley Province. It is likely, given transient and highly mobile pastoralist populations, that this is under-reported. The majority of births and deaths are not officially recorded. Neo-natal mortality (probability of dying in first month) in North Eastern Province is the highest of all of the provinces (50/1000 live births). Infant and young child mortality rates are increasing in Kenya as a whole. The under five mortality rate (probability of dying between birth and 5 years/1,000 live births) is 163/1,000 live births in North Eastern Province and 77/1,000 in Rift Valley Province. Antenatal care coverage is low (41 percent) and the majority of women (68 percent) in North Eastern Province give birth at home without a trained attendant43.
Frequent illness (diarrhea and acute respiratory infections) among children under five is common. In the northeast, incidence of diarrheal disease usually increases following the onset of the long rains. In April of this year, heavy rains caused animal carcasses to be washed into water pans, leading to contaminated water sources. This resulted in an outbreak of Shigella (a bacteria that causes diarrhea in animal and humans). Mortality rates in therapeutic feeding centers in Mandera and El Wak increased exponentially. Action Against Hunger set up a large number of rehydration points and was able to control the outbreak. Measles outbreaks have also occurred in the southern parts of Mandera district, as well as well as in some urban areas of