More married women seeking abortions

FILE

What you need to know:

  • Abortion is outlawed in Kenya, but it can be carried out legally in medical emergencies
  • Social scientists caution that abortion creates a cycle of psychological torture for both the abortionist and her family and friends

Kenya has one of the highest abortion rates in the region. At 48 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15-49 years), only Uganda rates higher in eastern Africa, a new report reveals.

The report further says that 266 women per 100,000 die annually from unsafe abortions in Kenya.

Shockingly, the research found that three in five married women are procuring abortions; and about half of all patients seeking medical care after unsafe abortion were under 25, with 17 per cent aged between 10 and 19 years.

Overall, an estimated 465,000 abortions were procured in Kenya in 2012, virtually all of them clandestine and unsafe procedures, and most resulting from unintended pregnancies, according to the study by the Ministry of Health and the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC).

The researchers found that 21,974 women were treated for abortion complications in Coast and North Eastern regions in 2012.

The number of live births in the two regions among women aged between 15 and 49 years was recorded as 209,017 with 7,127 presenting with late miscarriages.

Late miscarriage is defined as any spontaneous end of pregnancy occurring after 12 weeks and before 22 weeks of pregnancy, while live births refer to the birth of a living baby.

Abortion is outlawed in Kenya, but it can be carried out legally in medical emergencies.

The experts said the country needed to work harder to improve contraception and family planning services.

“It is clear from the evidence that improving women’s access to affordable and effective family planning and contraception is key to preventing unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions,” Dr Francis Kimani, the Director of Medical Services, said during the launch of the report.

The national study aimed at documenting the severity of complications of unsafe abortions in Kenya in a nationally representative sample of 328 public and private health facilities.

According to the report, Nyanza, Western and Rift Valleys reported the highest incidences of unsafe abortions, while Eastern had the lowest.

The study showed that 64 per cent of women seeking post-abortion care in Kenya were married, 59 per cent are from rural areas and at least nine out of 10 had some education.

The “Incidence and Complications of Unsafe Abortion in Kenya: Key Findings of a National Study” research showed that women who sought treatment for complications from unsafe abortion cut across social, marital and religious lines.

UNSAFE ABORTIONS

The World Health Organisation defines unsafe abortion as a procedure of terminating a pregnancy carried out either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to the minimal standards, or both.

The report called on the government to invest more in maternal health, citing it as a political and social imperative as well as a cost-effective way to strengthen the healthcare system.

It found that seven out of every 10 women seeking health care as a result of unsafe abortion procedures reported they had not used any form of contraception prior to becoming pregnant.

“Stigma, inadequate information on sexuality and cultural pressure also hinder contraceptive use among women and girls,” cite the researchers.

In 2010, an intervention at pharmacies to provide free information on contraception methods was met with resistance by some women as they considered it intrusive.

A worrying trend is that women are more concerned with getting pregnant than contracting STIs, HIV and Aids and some forms of cancers such as cervical cancer, one of the experts noted.

The report called for strengthened advocacy for safe abortion within the confines of law and in accordance with the Constitution.

Article 26(4) of the Constitution states: “Abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.”

“Legislators should ensure necessary resources are allocated to the health sector as a matter of priority and to expand maternity protection for working women,” Dr Kimani said yesterday during the launch of the report at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi.

He urged MPs to speak on behalf of women and children to ensure their voices were heard and to make sure that their rights and concerns were reflected in national development.

“Spending on women and children’s health is investment not just a cost. Contributing to the well-being of families and communities is a key responsibility,” Dr Kimani said.

FAMILY PLANNING

This illustrated a serious lack of family planning access and education services, the report said.

“Nearly 120,000 women sought treatment for complications arising from unsafe abortions, and three-quarters needed treatment for moderate or severe complications, including high fever, sepsis, shock, or organ failure,” read part of the report.

Some of the reasons that compel women to terminate pregnancies are chances that the pregnancy will curtail career progression or school work, fear of rejection by the family or social stigma especially for schoolgirls.

Social scientists caution that abortion creates a cycle of psychological torture for both the abortionist and her family and friends.

Dr Chima Izugbara, APHRC lead researcher, said the study shed light on a serious problem and proposes some solutions that can ultimately save women’s lives.

Increasing access to effective family planning methods, including post-abortion family planning counselling provision throughout Kenya; addressing the unique needs of young women; and engaging and educating communities about the risk of unsafe abortion are some of the recommendations to reverse this trend.

The study also recommended the adoption of and training on modern methods and technology by medical practitioners to help improve post-abortion care.