Incidence and complications of unsafe abortion in Kenya: key findings of a national study

Although unsafe abortion in Kenya has long been recognised as a leading cause of deaths and injuries to women - deaths and injuries that are preventable - there is limited scientific information available on the women who seek unsafe abortion, the magnitude of the problem of unsafe abortion in our society and the severity of complications that arise from unsafe abortion.
 

The study, conducted by the African Population and Health Research Center in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other partners, addresses not only the numbers of unsafe abortions occurring annually in Kenya, but also the extent of unsafe abortion, the characteristics of women who seek abortion-related care in Kenyan health facilities, and the quality of care available to such women. The study provides timely information on a major, but preventable cause of death and suffering in our society today.

It is clear from the evidence in this report that improving women’s access to affordable and effective family planning and/or contraception is key to preventing unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion. Effective family planning and/or contraception would also save our country the huge material and other resources that currently go into the treatment of unsafe abortion and its associated complications. The report also drives home the importance of training to adequately equip our health providers with the requisite skills and knowledge to provide quality abortion-related care to women.

Taken together, this report is a wake-up call on the reality of unsafe abortion in Kenya and the need to urgently find a lasting solution to this preventable cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.