A survey by the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) has indicated that tobacco use among women in Kenya is very high in the northern counties.
The KDHS survey which was conducted in 2022 was the 7th to be carried out in Kenya, following similar surveys conducted in 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008–09 and 2014.
The survey’s objective was to provide up-to-date information on socio-economic, demographic, nutrition and health indicators for planning, monitoring and evaluation of various health programmes and policies.
Specifically, the 2022 KDHS collected information on fertility levels and contraceptive prevalence, childhood mortality, maternal and child health, Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI), Anthropometric measures for children, women, and men, children’s nutrition, woman’s dietary diversity, knowledge and behaviour related to the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, noncommunicable diseases and other health issues, extent and pattern of gender-based violence, female genital mutilation.
The information collected in the 2022 KDHS will assist policymakers and programme managers in
monitoring, evaluating, and designing programmes and strategies for improving the health of Kenya’s
population.
Tobacco use
According to the KDHS survey, women in northern Kenya lead in tobacco use with Turkana, Marsabit and Samburu counties having the highest rate of tobacco use among women.
According to the data, 33 per cent of women in Turkana use tobacco while 16 per cent and 10 per cent of women in Samburu and Marsabit counties respectively use the substance which has an active nicotine ingredient.
The three counties are the only ones in Kenya to record a double-digit percentage of tobacco use among women.
