Fact Sheet: women’s lives matter - preventing unsafe abortion in Kenya. Key findings of a national study: incidence and complications of unsafe abortion in Kenya

In Kenya, unsafe abortion has long been recognised as a leading cause of death and injury to women—deaths and injuries that are preventable. Most abortions result from unintended pregnancies, which, as in most of Africa, continue to be extremely high throughout Kenya.

This key fact sheet looks at a national study undertaken in 2012, which assessed the number of abortions annually in Kenya, the extent of unsafe abortion, the characteristics of women who seek abortion-related care in Kenyan health facilities and the quality of care available. It argues that improved access to comprehensive abortion care, including counselling and effective contraceptive access and use, will both save women’s lives and reduce costs to Kenya’s overburdened healthcare system.