Repeat Abortions among Adolescent and Young Women in Kenya

Caroline Kabiru, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Boniface A. Ushie, University of Ibadan
Michael M. Mutua, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)

Unsafe abortions are a leading cause of death among 10-24 year old females in sub-Saharan Africa. Although, repeat abortions exacerbate the risk for poor health outcomes, there has been minimal interrogation of the prevalence of and factors associated with repeat abortions in this age group. In this study, we examine the prevalence of repeat abortions and associated factors among young females aged 10-24 years in Kenya. We use data from a nationwide survey conducted in 2012 among women presenting for post-abortion care services in 350 nationally-representative levels 2-6 facilities. All eligible women presenting for treatment during a one-month data collection period completed a Prospective Data Survey, which gathered information on socio-demographic characteristics, reproductive and clinical histories, and physical examination assessments. Of the 1,383 young women presenting for care, 9% reported a previous abortion. We present key findings and discuss the implications for practice and further research.