
Unsafe abortions: Hidden crisis affecting women
Unsafe abortions remain a leading cause of maternal deaths in Kenya.
Level III (health centres) and Level IV (sub-county hospitals) serve 29.8% and 21.5%, respectively.
In Summary
A majority of women seek post-abortion care (PAC) in public health facilities, which account for 50.6% of all PAC visits, followed by private for-profit facilities at 39.6%, and private not-for-profit at 9.8%.
The data, drawn from a report on abortion-related complications by the Ministry of Health and research partners, shows that Level II facilities—typically basic dispensaries—handle 39.5% of PAC cases.
Level III (health centres) and Level IV (sub-county hospitals) serve 29.8% and 21.5%, respectively.
Higher-level facilities such as Level V and VI account for only a small fraction of cases.
PAC involves both medical and emotional support for women following miscarriages or abortions, including those resulting from unsafe procedures.
Unsafe abortions remain a leading cause of maternal deaths in Kenya.