The Age Specific Practices and Outcomes in Women Undergoing Unsafe Abortions in Rural Communities of Kenya
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Date
2013-05
Authors
Osur, J.
Orago, A. S.
Mwanzo, I.
Bukusi, E.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
Unsafe Abortion is common among young women. It is not however known
whether the young women decide on their own to terminate the pregnancies, whether the
methods they use are similar to those of older women, and whether the outcomes of their
unsafely procured abortions are different from those of older women. This study therefore
set to establish the age specific practices and outcomes of unsafe abortion. It was a
cross-sectional survey and the setting was Siaya County, Kenya in East Africa. A sample
of 320 women aborting unsafely and reporting to health facilities for completion of the
process and management of complications were interviewed to determine their reproductive
health profiles, decision making process for unsafe abortion, unsafe abortion methods they
had used and outcomes making them seek healthcare. The study found that 76% of women
aborting unsafely were between 10 and 24 years with 62% being nulliparous. 84% of them
had undesired pregnancy. Younger women were likely to consult with a variety of people
before making a decision to abort unsafely. Women with wanted pregnancy and aborting
unsafely were likely to be of a younger age. The younger person was also more likely to
use a wide variety of unsafe abortion methods resulting in more complications. Overall
Description
DOI: 10.7813/jmbs.2013/4-1/4
Keywords
Citation
Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, VoI.4.No.1 (May, 2013)