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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Women's perceptions about abortion in their communities: Perspectives from western Kenya
Reproductive Health Matters, Volume 22, No. 43, Year 2014
Notification
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Description
Unsafe abortion in Kenya is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. In October 2012, we sought to understand the methods married women aged 24-49 and young, unmarried women aged ≤ 20 used to induce abortion, the providers they utilized and the social, economic and cultural norms that influenced women's access to safe abortion services in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties in western Kenya. We conducted five focus groups with young women and five with married women in rural and urban communities in each county. We trained local facilitators to conduct the focus groups in Swahili or English. All focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, computerized, and coded for analysis. Abortion outside public health facilities was mentioned frequently. Because of the need for secrecy to avoid condemnation, uncertainty about the law, and perceived higher cost of safer abortion methods, women sought unsafe abortions from community midwives, drug sellers and/or untrained providers at lower cost. Many groups believed that abortion was safer at higher gestational ages, but that there was no such thing as a safe abortion method. Our aim was to inform the design of a community-based intervention on safe abortion for women. Barriers to seeking safe services such as high cost, perceived illegality, and fear of insults and abuse at public facilities among both age groups must be addressed. © 2014 Reproductive Health Matters.
Authors & Co-Authors
Marlow, Heather M.
United States, Chapel Hill
Research and Evaluation
Wamugi, Sylvia
Kenya, Nairobi
Africa Institute for Health Policy
Yegon, Erick
Kenya, Nairobi
Africa Regional Office
Fetters, Tamara L.
United States, Chapel Hill
Research and Evaluation
Wanaswa, Leah
Kenya, Nairobi
Africa Regional Office
Msipa-Ndebele, Sinikiwe
United States, Chapel Hill
East Africa Region
Statistics
Citations: 49
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/S0968-8080(14)43758-3
e-ISSN:
14609576
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Study Locations
Kenya
Participants Gender
Female