Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41331441›Full record

ReviewPopulation health metrics2025

Pre- and during -COVID-19 pandemic mortality trends and drivers in rural, coastal Kenya: findings from the Kaloleni-Rabai Health and Demographic Surveillance System.

Rosebella Iseme-Ondiek, Morris Ogero, Rachael Odhiambo, Beth Tippett Barr, Chodziwadziwa Kabudula, Jean J H Bashingwa, Anthony K Ngugi

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Population health metrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Rosebella Iseme-OndiekDepartment of Population Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya. rosebella.ondiek@aku.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-2043-5223
Morris OgeroDepartment of Population Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Rachael OdhiamboDepartment of Population Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Beth Tippett BarrNyanja Health Research Institute, Salima, Malawi.
Chodziwadziwa KabudulaMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Jean J H BashingwaMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Anthony K NgugiDepartment of Population Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation INV-050361Gates Foundation INV-030309
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is contradicting information regarding the effect of COVID-19 on mortality in African settings. Knowledge of the complete direct and indirect burden of COVID-19 on mortality is heavily reliant on the availability of a population-based surveillance system. Here we provide robust data on the effect of COVID-19 on mortality trends in a rural, coastal, Kenyan community.

methodsA historical cohort study using data from the Kaloleni Rabai Health and Demographic Surveillance System was conducted with special focus on two discernible time periods representing the pre-COVID-19 (2018-2019) and COVID-19 (2020-2021) periods. Mortality rates were estimated as the total number of deaths divided by the person-time (years) at risk, accounting for attrition, and calculated separately for the two periods. A cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the impact of COVID-19 on mortality.

results1191 deaths occurred between 2018 and 2021. There was no significant change in overall mortality rates between pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods (3.7 and 3.6 per 1000 person years at risk respectively, p = 0.74). Older age was significantly associated with mortality (a_HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.05-1.06; p < 0.001). However, an interaction term between age and time-period appeared to reverse this association (a_HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.99-1.00; p < 0.001).

conclusionsOur findings suggest that although overall COVID-19 did not directly impact mortality rates within this rural population, the onset of the pandemic did appear to reverse and/or attenuate the impact of several risk factors on mortality. It is possible that COVID-19 brought health and wellness into sharp focus, making people more vigilant about their health, hygiene and associated preventive measures.

Indexed as

COVID-19MortalityRural PopulationAdolescentAdultAgedChildChild, PreschoolCohort StudiesFemaleHumansInfantKenyaMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsCommunity deathsCOVID-19Excess COVID mortalityHDSSMortality surveillanceMortality trendsRural Kenya

Identifiers

PMID41331441
PMCPMC12670754

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.