title: The estimated incidence of induced abortion in Kenya: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The recently promulgated 2010 constitution of Kenya permits abortion when the life or health of the woman is in danger. Yet broad uncertainty remains about the interpretation of the law. Unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in Kenya. The current study aimed to determine the incidence of induced abortion in Kenya in 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  The incidence of induced abortion in Kenya in 2012 was estimated using the Abortion Incidence Complications Methodology (AICM) along with the Prospective Morbidity Survey (PMS). Data were collected through three surveys, (i) Health Facilities Survey (HFS), (ii) Prospective Morbidity Survey (PMS), and (iii) Health Professionals Survey (HPS). A total of 328 facilities participated in the HFS, 326 participated in the PMS, and 124 key informants participated in the HPS. Abortion numbers, rates, ratios and unintended pregnancy rates were calculated for Kenya as a whole and for five geographical regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2012, an estimated 464,000 induced abortions occurred in Kenya. This translates into an abortion rate of 48 per 1,000 women aged 15-49, and an abortion ratio of 30 per 100 live births. About 120,000 women received care for complications of induced abortion in health facilities. About half (49%) of all pregnancies in Kenya were unintended and 41% of unintended pregnancies ended in an abortion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides the first nationally-representative estimates of the incidence of induced abortion in Kenya. An urgent need exists for improving facilities' capacity to provide safe abortion care to the fullest extent of the law. All efforts should be made to address underlying factors to reduce risk of unsafe abortion.
authors: Research Division African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), APHRC Campus, Manga close off Kirawa road, Kitisuru, P.O. Box, 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. smohamed@aphrc.org.
authors: Shukri F
authors: SF
authors: Mohamed
authors: Research Division African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), APHRC Campus, Manga close off Kirawa road, Kitisuru, P.O. Box, 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. cizugbara@aphrc.org.
authors: Chimaraoke
authors: C
authors: Izugbara
authors: Research Division, Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, 7th floor, New York, NY, 10038, USA. amoore@guttmacher.org.
authors: Ann M
authors: AM
authors: Moore
authors: Research Division African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), APHRC Campus, Manga close off Kirawa road, Kitisuru, P.O. Box, 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. mmutua@aphrc.org.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Mutua
authors: Research Division African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), APHRC Campus, Manga close off Kirawa road, Kitisuru, P.O. Box, 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. ekimani@aphrc.org.
authors: Elizabeth W
authors: EW
authors: Kimani-Murage
authors: Research Division African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), APHRC Campus, Manga close off Kirawa road, Kitisuru, P.O. Box, 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. aziraba@aphrc.org.
authors: Abdhalah K
authors: AK
authors: Ziraba
authors: Research Division, Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, 7th floor, New York, NY, 10038, USA. abankole@guttmacher.org.
authors: Akinrinola
authors: A
authors: Bankole
authors: Research Division, Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, 7th floor, New York, NY, 10038, USA. ssingh@guttmacher.org.
authors: Susheela D
authors: SD
authors: Singh
authors: Research Division African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), APHRC Campus, Manga close off Kirawa road, Kitisuru, P.O. Box, 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. cegesa@aphrc.org.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Egesa
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult