Study reveals over 500,000 abortions are done yearly across the country
Abortions are illegal in Kenya unless a woman’s life or health is in danger. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- The report revealed that Rift Valley had the highest number of unsafe abortions, with Sh112 million spent on treating attendant complications, followed by Western, where Sh83 million was used.
Nyanza came in third with Sh53 million spent, followed by Central at Sh44 million. Some Sh41million was spent in Nairobi, Sh40 million in Eastern, Sh39 million in Coast and Sh20 million in North-Eastern.
While Kenya has made remarkable strides in several health indicators over the last few years, maternal mortality and morbidity remain a menace.
A significant number of these deaths result from complications arising from unsafe abortions.
A nationwide study by the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other partners has revealed that over half a million abortions are procured in Kenya every year.
Most of these are usually unsafe and result in various complications.
The ''Incidence and Complications of Unsafe Abortions in Kenya'' study showed that 157,762 women received post-abortion care following complications in 2012. Globally, unsafe abortions account for 47,000 maternal deaths, with over 90 per cent of these occurring in low and middle-income countries.
A follow-up study by APHRC revealed that the Kenyan government spent Sh533 million in 2016 treating post-abortion complications in public health facilities. From this amount, 58 per cent was spent on healthcare personnel while 42 per cent was spent on medication and other supplies.
RIFT VALLEY TOPS
A 2018 study report, ''The Cost of Treating Unsafe Abortion Complications in Public Health Facilities in Kenya'', revealed that Rift Valley had the highest number of unsafe abortions, with Sh112 million spent on treating attendant complications, followed by Western, where Sh83 million was used.
Nyanza came in third with Sh53 million spent, followed by Central at Sh44 million. Some Sh41million was spent in Nairobi, Sh40 million in Eastern, Sh39 million in Coast and Sh20 million in North-Eastern.
The Sh533 million is higher than the 2012 figure of Sh432.7 million. This shows that more women procured unsafe abortions in 2016.
Most of the women who sought treatment at public health facilities were treated for severe bleeding, organ failure, genital trauma and life-threatening sepsis.
Kimberly, a safe abortion provider, says that providers lack guidelines on how to procure abortions. She confides that every provider does their own procedure, which they term “safe”. If it works, then it is safe, if it doesn’t, then maybe it’s not safe.
She opines that, if there were guidelines for them in place, complications arising from unsafe abortions would be minimal.
FEARS OF PERSECUTION
According to Kenneth Juma, a research officer at APHRC, access to post-abortion care is limited because the majority of facilities in Kenya, including referral facilities, are not well equipped to meet the needs of these women.
In June 2019, the High Court in Kenya reinstated the safe abortion guidelines that the government, through the Ministry of Health, had abolished in 2013. Following the invalidation of the guidelines, many in the health sector faced uncertainty and fear of persecution for providing care to abortion clients.
Mr Juma says that currently, there are concerted efforts to relaunch and disseminate the post-abortion care guidelines.
These guidelines, he says, will offer clear guidance to health providers on how to deliver care to women who are suffering from post-abortion complications. It remains unclear when the guidelines will be launched.
