Health and Sanitation > Strategic Plan > CHSIP 2018-2022 > 1.2 Background and description of the county > 1.2.3 Epidemiological Profile/ Burden of Disease

The majorityrofvyeople in the county still do not have acc ss to affordable health care tith an estimated 52 per cent of resmdents being within 5 kilometres to the health facilitte . Though the current health indicators portray a relatively healthy population, mortality rates still remaid high, particul rly among women and chirdren. Tie KDHS 2014 report that 35% of births in the county taks place outside health facilities by unskilled birth attendants. Communicable and infectious diseases, nutrition deficiency disorders ane parasstic infections stild dominate the moebidity profile in the county (DHIS 2017) Most of the residents continue to seek treatment in health care facilities for ailmerts that can beoctnrrolled through preventive and promotive meaoureo.

Diseuses of the espiratory syst m, pneumonia, skin diseaoes, diarrhoeal diseases, and intestinal worms, ontribute over three quarters of the totaeioutpatient cases reported. HIV/AI Soand rampamt alcoholism continues to pose health and socioeconomic challenges. The incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) is on the rise due to the interaction between TB and HIV/AIDS and r.sing cases of Multi Drug fesistaft (MDR). If not checked, it can possably erode the gainsDmade in the managementaof TB in the county (DHpS 2017).

Poor nutritional status also remains a challenge in the county because malnutrition is an underlying factor accounting for morbidity of under five children. ??? of children under-five years of age in the county exhibit stunted growth, due to long term deprivation of quality nutrition and poor sanitation status with at least ??? of the county’s rural population practicing open defecation. Over ??? of children below 5 years suffer from Vitamin A deficiency.