Factors associated with repeat induced abortion in Kenya

Over six million induced abortions were reported in Africa in 2008 [1] with over two million occurring in Eastern Africa¹ despite abortion being largely illegal in the region. The relatively high unsafe abortion rate in Africa (28 unsafe abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44) was only second to the Latin America and the Caribbean at 31 unsafe abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 in 2008 [1]. Sub-regionally, Eastern and Middle Africa topped the world at a rate of 36 unsafe abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 years. About 14 % of maternal deaths in Africa are attributed to unsafe abortion [1] and almost two million women in Africa are hospitalized annually due to complications resulting from unsafe abortions [2]. Other adverse effects associated with abortion include severe hemorrhage, infections, trauma, and renal failure [3, 4].

Studies indicate that despite the adverse effects on health, a significant proportion of women procure more than one abortion during their reproductive lifetime [5‐9]. In Sudan for instance, a study in five hospitals indicated that over 40 % of women seeking treatment for complications of unsafe abortion had at least one previous unsafe abortion [8]. Another study in public and private facilities in Ethiopia indicated that among women seeking abortion-related services, the incidence of repeat abortion was 30 % [9].

Despite the high prevalence of repeat induced abortions observed in African settings, there is a dearth of research on factors associated with repeat induced abortions. Studies on abortion have mainly focused on factors associated with induced abortions while considering previous induced abortions as one of the risk factors [8‐10]. Extant studies from elsewhere in the world suggest that age, parity and contraceptive use are associated with the risk of repeat abortion [5, 6, 11, 12]. A study carried out in Nepal showed that the risk of repeat induced abortion increases linearly with age [5]. Another study carried in the United States of America also showed that older women were significantly more likely to have repeated elective abortions than teenagers [12]. However, a study in Finland found that young women were more likely to seek a repeat induced abortion within 5 years compared to older women [11]. As regards the effect of parity, a study in the United States of America found that women having repeat abortions were not only likely to have had prior births, but were more likely to have had three or more prior births [13]. Similar findings were found in the Nepalese study [5]. On the effect of contraception, a number of studies have shown that most women who have induced abortions were non-users of contraceptive methods or were using less efficient contraceptive methods during the month they became pregnant [5, 10, 11, 13‐18]. Similarly, women not using contraception were more likely to seek another abortion compared to those on contraception [11].

This paper provides further evidence on factors associated with repeat abortion in African settings in particular. The study focuses on Kenya, a country in Eastern Africa where the prevalence of unsafe abortions is relatively high. Kenya had an estimated 1.6 million live births in 2012 [7]. An estimated 119,912 cases of induced abortions were treated at heath facilities during the same year [7]. It is estimated that about 13 % of maternal deaths in Kenya are as a result of unsafe abortions [19]. Kenya is still lagging behind in regard to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 on improving maternal health by reducing maternal mortality and morbidity [19]. According to the 2008–09 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), the maternal mortality rate in Kenya was 488 deaths per 100,000 live births [20], an increase from 412 deaths per 100,000 live births recorded in 2003 [21]. Prevention of repeat induced abortions is therefore key in attainment of MDG 5 by reducing maternal related morbidities and mortalities due to unsafe abortions.

Table 1 presents the sociodemographic characteristics of the women in the sample by history of induced abortion. About 16 % of women who presented at the facilities for post abortion services after an induced abortion reported to have had a previous induced abortion. Significant differences can be noted by age and marital status. The proportion of women who had had a previous abortion was highest among those aged 20–24 years while the proportion of women having a first-time induced abortion was highest among those aged 10–19 years (93 %). Although the proportion of women who had a first-time induced abortion was higher among women who were never married (88 %), it can be noted that the proportion of women who had had a previous induced abortion was highest among the divorced/separated/widowed (34 %).

The proportions of women seeking treatment for first time induced abortion or women who had had a prior induced abortion by reproductive health characteristics are presented in Table 2. Notable significant differences were only observed by contraceptive use at the time of conception. Higher proportions of women seeking care after a repeat induced abortion were observed among women who were on traditional methods of contraception (43 %) followed by those on short-acting methods (22 %) and least among those on long-acting methods (7 %). Though not statistically significant, higher proportions of women seeking care after a repeat induced abortion were observed among women who were uncertain about the wantedness status of their pregnancies (31 %) and those who did not want the pregnancy at the time of conception (18 %). Nine percent of women who wanted the current pregnancy at the time of conception reported having had a prior induced abortion.

Table 3 presents the results of the age-standardized models analyzing the factors associated with repeat induced abortion. Variables with significant effects include: marital status, education, previous live births, pregnancy wantedness, and contraceptive use at the time of conception. Women who were separated/divorced/widowed were six times more likely to have had a prior abortion compared to single women who had never been married (OR = 6.804; p = 0.000). Women with unwanted pregnancies (OR = 0.534; p = 0.021) and those who wanted the pregnancy later (OR = 0.347; p = 0.025) were less likely to have had a prior abortion compared to those whose pregnancy was wanted. Compared to women with no education, women with education were less likely to have had a prior abortion (OR = 0.284, p = 0.001 (primary); OR = 0.336, p = 0.010 (secondary); OR = 0.278, p = 0.002 (post-secondary)) while women with 1–2 previous live births were 2 times more likely (OR = 2.104; p = 0.012 to have had a prior abortion compared to women who had no previous live births. Finally, compared to women not using any contraceptive method at the time of conception, women on traditional methods of contraception and women on short-acting methods (although not significant) were nine times (OR = 9.474; p = 0.004) and two times (OR = 2.308; p = 0.054) respectively more likely to have had a prior abortion compared to women not using any contraceptive method at the time of conception.

Despite the illegality of abortion in Kenya, previous research has shown a relatively high magnitude of unsafe abortions [7, 23]. With the increasing incidence of induced abortion, it is highly likely that the rate of repeat induced abortions will also increase and as our results show, the higher proportion of repeat abortions among women aged 20–24 than 25 and above suggests that the abortion rate is increasing in Kenya. Repeat induced abortions can be prevented if the associated factors are known, i.e. if women with high likelihood of a repeat abortion can be identified and targeted for specific interventions. This study investigated the factors associated with repeat induced abortions among women seeking care for complications from induced abortions in a nationally-representative sample of health facilities. Findings indicate that a minimum of 16 % of women seeking post abortion care services in public and private health facilities in Kenya in 2012 had had a prior abortion. Women who were formerly in marital unions (divorced/separated/widowed), those using traditional methods of contraception, and those with 1 – 2 prior births were more likely to have had a prior induced abortion. On the other hand, women with primary, secondary or post-secondary level of education and those whose index pregnancy was unwanted or wanted later were associated with a lower likelihood of having had a prior induced abortion.

Contrary to findings that show high proportions of women having repeat abortions being in marital unions [24] our findings show that separated/divorced/widowed (34 %) were seeking care for a second or later abortion compared to 13 % among the married women and 12 % among the never married women. A study carried out in Canada had similar results and showed that women who were previously married and women in common-law relationships had an above average proportion of repeat abortions [25]

Similar to other studies in Finland [11] and Estonia [26], our findings indicated striking differences in the rate of repeat abortion between women using short-acting and traditional methods and those using long-acting methods with the former associated with the highest rate of repeat abortions. As regards to the association with live births, our findings echo the results of a study carried out in the United States of America where women in higher parity were more likely to have repeat abortions [27]. In their study, Jones et al. found that women having repeat abortions were not only likely to have had prior births, but were more likely to have had three or more prior births [27]. Another study carried out in Nepal had similar findings [5].

This study indicates that over 17 % of women who had an unwanted pregnancy and 12 % who had a mistimed (not wanted then) pregnancy had had a previous induced abortion. However, these results are contradicted by our regression results which, although not supported by existing literature, shows that women who had unintended pregnancies (‘wanted later’ and ‘did not want then’) at the time of conception were less likely to report having a prior abortion compared to those who had wanted the pregnancy then. Extant literature shows that unwanted pregnancies at the time of conception are more likely to end up in abortion compared with wanted pregnancies. However, circumstances that women experience in the course of pregnancy may lead a woman to abort even a wanted pregnancy. For example, the status of the relationship with partner may have changed after the pregnancy occurs, women may experience increased pressure from partners to end a pregnancy or women in abusive relationships may abort a pregnancy [28‐30] to avoid bringing a child into an abusive relationship. Most studies have associated unwanted pregnancy with contraceptive non-use at the time of conception [14, 16, 17] and contraceptive method failure due to inefficient use as well method ineffectiveness [5, 16, 31, 32]. A study by Cheng et al. among a sample of women seeking an abortion in China indicated that about 70 % of women who had had more than one abortion did not use a contraceptive method at their first sexual intercourse after the procedure. The study further found that while almost 48 % of the current pregnancies were associated with contraceptive non-use, 52 % were attributed to contraceptive failure [16].

According to the Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo (1994) governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are urged to strengthen their commitment to women’s health, to deal with the health impact of unsafe abortion as a major public health concern and to reduce the recourse to abortion through expanded and improved family planning services. Prevention of unwanted pregnancies must always be given the highest priority and every attempt should be made to eliminate the need for abortion. Women who have unwanted pregnancies should have ready access to reliable information and compassionate counseling. Post-abortion counseling, education and family planning services should be offered promptly, which will also help to avoid repeat abortions. (Paragraph 8.25) [26].

Efficient and correct use of modern contraceptive methods has real potential to decrease unintended pregnancy and repeat abortion. Counseling and commodities should be accessible to all women, including those who are young. There is also need to enhance youth friendly health care facilities and youth friendly health practitioners who are able to counsel the young people and provide information and education on contraceptive use. The findings of this study point to the fact that family planning programs have a long way to go towards addressing issues of unintended pregnancies in the Kenyan context. They also point to the need to address the reasons why women with first time induced abortion do not have the necessary information to prevent unintended pregnancies and further induced abortions. Many health facilities in Kenya do not integrate post abortion services and family planning services and referral systems are not well designed enough to avoid losing women in need of contraception in between. The Magnitude and Incidence of Unsafe Abortion Project data indicated for instance that 48 % of women seeking post abortion care services for first time abortions did not receive contraception methods at discharge. The corresponding percentage was 22 % among women seeking post abortion care services for repeat abortions. Comprehensive and integrated information on contraception and preferably on long term acting and permanent method should be systematically offered to young and older women seeking for post abortion services in all public and private facilities in Kenya. Facilities offering post-abortion care services should encourage women to use modern methods of contraception and especially long-acting methods and also discourage use of traditional methods as they have proven to be ineffective.