A new study by the Ministry of Health has revealed that most women who undergo abortions in Kenya are married or living with a partner.
The report, released in April 2025, dubbed “Incidence of Induced Abortions and the Severity of Abortion-related Complications in Kenya”, found that an estimated 792,694 induced abortions occurred in the country in 2023.
This translates to 57.3 abortions for every 1,000 women of reproductive age (15–49 years), and 48.1 abortions for every 100 live births.
The study shows that abortion rates vary widely across different regions in Kenya.
Areas with the highest rates of unintended pregnancies also recorded the highest rates of induced abortions. The report suggests that preventing unintended pregnancies through family planning—especially by increasing access to modern contraceptives—is key to reducing unsafe abortions.
More than half of the women who sought treatment for abortion-related complications were treated in public hospitals, with 69.3% receiving care in primary-level health facilities.
The report, based on data collected from women treated for abortion complications across Kenya over a 30-day period, shows that the women were from various backgrounds. Most of them were aged between 25 and 34 years (41.8%), married or cohabiting (78.6%), and had completed secondary school education (36.7%). A majority identified as Christians (90.6%), and 65.6% had previously given birth. Nearly a third (29.1%) had experienced four or more pregnancies.
In terms of medical complications, 1.4% of the women suffered severe maternal outcomes, while 16.4% had potentially life-threatening conditions. Another 28.5% experienced moderately severe complications, and 53.7% had mild complications.
Compared to a similar study done in 2012, the proportion of women suffering from the most serious complications has reduced. The researchers believe that improved access to post-abortion care over the past decade may have allowed more women to get help early, reducing the severity of their conditions.
Despite this progress, Kenya still has one of the highest abortion rates in the region. According to the Director General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, the government has taken major steps to improve maternal health by removing barriers and increasing access to care.
“Unsafe abortion remains a public health challenge,” said Dr. Amoth.
“The government has invested in various strategies to reduce its impact, including expanding access to modern contraceptives, developing clinical guidelines, and training health providers in post-abortion care.”
He added that more research is needed to fully understand the extent of induced abortions in Kenya, the types of complications women face, and the kind of care they receive.
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