Capital News [Capital FM] – Online
August 21, 2013
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 21 – A new survey released on Wednesday shows that there were 464,690 abortions procured in Kenya last year.
According to the study by the African Population and Health Research Centre, Rift Valley recorded the highest cases at 38,687 followed by Nyanza with 36,842.
The Director of Medical Services Francis Kimani who was present at the launch of the study said that a majority of the abortions were procured by women who had unwanted pregnancies.
“It is important to recognise that unintended pregnancy is a major contributor to unsafe abortions in most African countries,” he stated, adding that 45 percent of births in the preceding five years were reported by women as unwanted.
He added that Central and Nairobi recorded a combined 20,676 cases followed by Coast and North Eastern Province with a total of 16, 649 cases.
Kimani further revealed that 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.
“It is clear from the evidence that improving women’s access to affordable and effective family planning and contraception is key to preventing unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortions,” he said.
Kimani explained that the treatment of complications of unsafe abortion placed an extra strain on Kenya’s already overburdened healthcare system.
Read more: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2013/08/over-400000-abortions-in-kenya-last-year-survey/