More than half of unplanned pregnancies in Kenya ended in abortion in 2023. This is according to a new national report by the Ministry of Health, the African Population and Health Research Centre, and the Guttmacher Institute. The report estimates that Kenya recorded 792,694 induced abortions during the year. These abortions were the result of a total of 1,435,988 unplanned pregnancies.
The data shows that 55.2 percent of unintended pregnancies in Kenya led to abortion. The remaining cases either ended in unplanned births or miscarriages. The national unintended pregnancy rate stood at 103.8 per 1,000 women of reproductive age. This means that out of every 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 49, about 104 experienced a pregnancy they did not plan for.
The findings also show that unintended pregnancies and abortion rates were highest in specific regions. Nyanza and Western had the highest unintended pregnancy rate at 135.1 per 1,000 women. Nairobi and Central followed with a rate of 109.6. These two regions also recorded the highest abortion rates, with Nairobi and Central at 78.3 per 1,000 and Nyanza and Western at 69.4.
The report links high abortion rates to the failure to prevent unintended pregnancies, with data suggesting that many women and girls are not accessing or using contraceptive methods consistently or effectively. Among the women surveyed who had abortions, 66 percent were not using any form of contraception at the time they became pregnant. The most common reasons given were fear of side effects, lack of access, and personal or partner opposition.
In total, 304,159 women sought post-abortion care in health facilities in 2023. Of these, 256,620 were treated for complications resulting from induced abortions. The majority of women received care in public facilities, and most were treated at primary-level health centres. According to the report, 92.3 percent of patients received contraceptive counselling before being discharged; however, only 43.5 percent left with a method of contraception.
In terms of severity, 1.4 percent of post-abortion care patients experienced life-threatening outcomes, including death or organ failure. An additional 16.4 percent had complications that required emergency care. Moderate complications accounted for 28.5 percent of cases. More than half of the patients (53.7 percent) had complications classified as non-severe.
The report also assessed the readiness of the health system to provide post-abortion care. Only 18.3 percent of primary health facilities met all the requirements for basic care. At the referral level, only 24.1 percent of facilities could provide comprehensive care. The report cites lack of equipment, shortage of trained personnel, and limited availability of contraceptive supplies as key challenges.
The study recommends expanding access to contraceptive services, improving the readiness of health facilities, and increasing awareness of reproductive health options. The report is expected to support planning and decision-making in the health sector.
