Pneumonia, most cancers, and cardiovascular illnesses had been the main causes of dying reported in well being amenities in 2024, in keeping with information launched by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The report reveals that 54.9 per cent of registered deaths occurred in well being amenities, whereas 45.1 per cent had been reported locally.
Pneumonia remained the highest reason for well being facility deaths for the fourth consecutive 12 months, whereas most cancers rose sharply to change into the second main trigger and the highest reason for dying amongst girls.
Cancer has proven a gentle rise through the years, rating fifth in 2021, fourth in 2022, and second in each 2023 and 2024. Cardiovascular illnesses got here in third amongst well being facility deaths.
Pneumonia and most cancers had been the highest two main causes of dying amongst males in 2023 and 2024.
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Pneumonia and Cancer Lead Causes of Death in Hospitals
Notably, in 2024, most cancers was additionally the main reason for dying amongst Kenyans who died outdoors the nation, accounting for 16.7 per cent of such deaths, adopted by cardiovascular illnesses (11.1%) and coronary heart illnesses (8.9%).
In the neighborhood, the primary causes of dying had been sudden dying, pneumonia, most cancers, and malaria, in that order.
Over the final two years, these 4 causes have persistently dominated each female and male neighborhood dying statistics.
Among youngsters beneath 5, deaths accounted for 13.9 per cent of all registered fatalities in 2024.
Prematurity and start asphyxia remained the main causes of neonatal and toddler deaths, respectively. For youngsters aged 5–14, anaemia was the commonest reason for dying.
Injuries and highway visitors accidents had been main causes of dying among the many youth, notably males.
Cancer was most prevalent in adults aged 30–49, whereas HIV/AIDS remained a big reason for dying amongst females aged 15–29 and 50–59.
For adults aged 30 and above, kidney illness and diabetes had been additionally among the many prime ten causes of dying.
The information reveals notable regional traits:
- Wajir, Mandera, and Vihiga counties had the best variety of community-registered deaths,
- While Uasin Gishu, Kericho, and Nairobi City counties led in well being facility deaths.
The nationwide intercourse ratio at dying was 126 males for each 100 females, peaking at 188 amongst these aged 20–24, and dropping to 77 amongst these aged 80 and above.
Counties corresponding to Mandera, Wajir, Tana River, and Garissa recorded the best male-to-female dying ratios.
Leading Causes of Death in Health Facilities, 2020–2024
| Rank | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiorespiratory failure / Cardiopulmonary arrest (9,332) | Pneumonia (15,468) | Pneumonia (11,453) | Pneumonia (9,966) | Pneumonia (9,682) |
| 2 | Pneumonia (9,061) | Cardiopulmonary and Cardiorespiratory Arrest (9,862) | Cardiopulmonary and Cardiorespiratory Arrest (11,176) | Cancer (7,699) | Cancer (8,954) |
| 3 | Cancer (6,078) | Respiratory Infections (7,434) | Respiratory Infections (7,340) | cardiovascular illnesses (7,494) | cardiovascular illnesses (7,478) |
| 4 | Respiratory Infections (5,749) | COVID-19 (5,987) | Cancer (5,653) | Sepsis (6,171) | Hypertension (5,035) |
| 5 | Hypertension (5,456) | Cancer (5,745) | Injuries (4,296) | Hypertension (8,442) | Injuries (4,574) |
| 6 | Prematurity & Birth Asphyxia (4,368) | coronary heart illnesses (4,869) | Hypertension (4,212) | Injuries (4,559) | Anaemia (4,572) |
| 7 | Anaemia (3,557) | Hypertension (4,734) | Anaemia( 4,108) | Prematurity & Birth Asphyxia (4,134) | kidney illnesses (4,247) |
Cancer Dominates Death in Female
In the 50–59 age group, the main causes of neighborhood deaths had been sudden dying, most cancers, and pneumonia, with sudden dying dominating amongst males, whereas most cancers led amongst females.
For older individuals aged 60 and above, sudden dying was the main trigger throughout each sexes. Among males, most cancers ranked second and pneumonia third, whereas amongst girls, pneumonia ranked second and most cancers third.
In the 15–29 age group, sudden dying accounted for 15.4 per cent of all community-registered deaths.
While accidents featured prominently among the many prime causes of dying for males in 2023 and 2024, they didn’t seem among the many prime causes for females in the identical interval.
The report additionally famous a decline in deaths registered in well being amenities attributable to bronchial asthma, malaria, pneumonia, highway visitors accidents, and tuberculosis (TB) between 2023 and 2024.
For 9 out of the ten main causes of dying in 2024, the variety of male deaths exceeded feminine deaths, reinforcing gender-based disparities in mortality throughout the nation.
