BY MANUEL ODENY
Negative perception on abortion and access to health services in Kenya has caused death and complication on women, a report has stated.
The Ministry of Health has released the ‘incidence of induced abortions and the severity of abortion related complications on Kenya,” which paints a grim picture on complications and unintended pregnancies.
In Kenya, abortion is largely legally restricted “as a result many women who face unintended pregnancies are unable to access safe abortion methods and procedures,” the report added.
The report collected data in 2023 for the first national abortion study in country done by the ministry of health, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and Guttmacher Institute.
The data sought to estimate the incidences of induced abortions, severity of post- abortion care and ability of hospitals to provide these cares.
In 2023 Kenya recorded 2,850,346 pregnancies of which of which 1,435,988 were unintended and 792,694, which stands at 27.8 per cent of the total number, ended in induced abortions.
“This report shows clearly that despite the negative perception we have against abortion and stigma around it is still happening in our society and we should avoid burying our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich,” Lillian Maina, project officer at Women Collective Kenya said.
She was speaking at a public baraza in Mariwa center, Awendo constituency in Migori county yesterday when the organisation launched the report to several grass root women, health stakeholders and officials.
Maina said Western and Nyanza region led in those seeking post abortion care which is worrying and shows we have women who are still afraid of using contraceptives.
“We need to stop our women from procuring illegal and unsafe abortions, have access to contraceptives to plan their births to avoid reported cases of death, coma and severe complications,” Maina said.
She said some unintended pregnancies can be caused by rape, incest or lack of access to contraceptives.
“We have cases where is a child is born out of incest the kid should be killed or the mother chased out of family, these are cases that abortion became and alternative,” she added.
The report started that Post Abortion Care (PAC) caseload and treatment rates national stood at 304,159 of which Nyanza & Western region led 79,655 cases followed by Nairobi & Central at 69,695 cases.
The report said that among all women who received post-abortion care in Kenya 1.4 per cent had extreme cases of death and coma and 16.4 per cent had life threatening complications.
Of those who used abortion 42 per cent refused to used contraceptive for fear of side effects, which pointed out to problem of ending unintended pregnancies.
The report also states that only 24 per cent of referral hospitals could offer Post Abortion Care while 18 per cent of other health facilities can offer the same.
“These figures paint a grim picture for use in Nyanza and western region that is why we are targeting women aged between 15.49 years to access sexual, health rights,” Susan Agunda the Migori deputy county reproductive health officer said.
Agunda said provision of quality health care is a right for all Kenyans and any complications due to illegal abortions should be treated.
She said because of stigma most women choose quacks and illegal clinics to procure abortions.
Dorothy Otieno, a member of women collective said they have been closer to women who need abortion care by first offering counseling services to avoid complications at the long run.
