The Public Health Cost of Unsafe Abortion in Kenya

Maharouf A. Oyolola, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Chimaraoke O. Izugbara, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Janie Benson, Ipas
Estelle Monique Sidze, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Michael M. Mutua, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Caroline Egesa, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)

There is limited information on the public health cost of unsafe abortion in Kenya. Yet, accurate and up-to-date data on the cost of treating unsafe abortion complications are needed both for effective policy-making and resource allocation. The current study combines two datasets to estimate the public sector cost of treating complications of unsafe abortion in Kenya. These datasets were (1) Secondary data from the 2012 Kenya Incidence and Complications of Unsafe Abortion Study, and (2) Primary data collected, from a nationally-representative sample of health facilities in Kenya, on the personnel, supplies, medications and other resources ordinarily used to treat mild, moderate and severe unsafe abortion complications. Preliminary results show that the treatment of complications of unsafe abortion consumes a disproportionate amount of health systems resources in Kenya, with substantial scarce medical and other supplies as well as time of highly-qualified health providers spent on caring for post-abortion complications patients.