Factors Leading to Unsafe Abortions among Females of Reproductive Age at Kangundo District Hospital

Background :The government of Kenya has rolled out a free maternity program to step up its efforts in curbing maternal mortality, therefore there is need to understand the reasons behind the high number of procured unsafe abortions in order to come up with health promotion strategies to aid policy formulation and implementation of health promotion interventions. Aims and objectives : The study aimed to determine factors leading to induced unsafe abortions among females of reproductive age at Kangundo District Hospital. Specifically, determine the socio-demographic characteristic of the patients with induced abortion at Kangundo District Hospital, Find out the reasons for inducing abortion among women of reproductive age at the Kangundo District Hospital, and assess the complications associated with induced unsafe abortion among women of reproductive age at the Kangundo district Hospital. Methods : Mixed methods research design based on self-administered questionnaire containing closed and open questions survey method enabled data collection from 30 respondents purposefully selected from among women of reproductive age that presented with induced abortion at the gynecology ward of Kangundo district hospital. The data collected was processed, organized and analyzed using the SPSS special version 20 and the quantitative results presented in form of tables, pie charts, and bar graphs, while narratives depicted content analysis of qualitative items. The respondents signed informed consent forms and the authorization of the study came from National Council for Science and Technology via the KMTC Director. Results : Majority of respondents (60%) are ages 25-35 years; and 40% of the respondents were married; and 40% of the respondents had attained secondary education. Majority of the respondents (46.6%) cited lack of awareness or ignorance about family planning methods as their major reason for procuring and unsafe abortion. The major complication found among 48.4% of the respondents was post abortal pelvic infection. Conclusion : The ignorance of family planning practices plus unstable economic status among a majority of women of reproductive age with unplanned pregnancy in Kangundo plays a major role in laying fertile ground for unsafe abortions. Background :The government of Kenya has rolled out a free maternity program to step up its efforts in curbing maternal mortality, therefore there is need to understand the reasons behind the high number of procured unsafe abortions in order to come up with health promotion strategies to aid policy formulation and implementation of health promotion interventions. Aims and objectives : The study aimed to determine factors leading to induced unsafe abortions among females of reproductive age at Kangundo District Hospital. Specifically, determine the socio-demographic characteristic of the patients with induced abortion at Kangundo District Hospital, Find out the reasons for inducing abortion among women of reproductive age at the Kangundo District Hospital, and assess the complications associated with induced unsafe abortion among women of reproductive age at the Kangundo district Hospital. Methods : Mixed methods research design based on self-administered questionnaire containing closed and open questions survey method enabled data collection from 30 respondents purposefully selected from among women of reproductive age that presented with induced abortion at the gynecology ward of Kangundo district hospital. The data collected was processed, organized and analyzed using the SPSS special version 20 and the quantitative results presented in form of tables, pie charts, and bar graphs, while narratives depicted content analysis of qualitative items. The respondents signed informed consent forms and the authorization of the study came from National Council for Science and Technology via the KMTC Director. Results : Majority of respondents (60%) are ages 25-35 years; and 40% of the respondents were married; and 40% of the respondents had attained secondary education. Majority of the respondents (46.6%) cited lack of awareness or ignorance about family planning methods as their major reason for procuring and unsafe abortion. The major complication found among 48.4% of the respondents was post abortal pelvic infection. Conclusion : The ignorance of family planning practices plus unstable economic status among a majority of women of reproductive age with unplanned pregnancy in Kangundo plays a major role in laying fertile ground for unsafe abortions.