Women's experiences with unplanned pregnancy and abortion in Kenya: A qualitative study

被引:39
作者
Jayaweera, Ruvani T. [1 ]
Ngui, Felistah Mbithe [2 ]
Hall, Kelli Stidham [3 ]
Gerdts, Caitlin [1 ]
机构
[1] Ibis Reprod Hlth, Oakland, CA 94612 USA
[2] Fortress Hope Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
[3] Emory Univ, Rollins Sch Publ Hlth, Behav Sci & Hlth Educ, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
关键词
MISOPROSTOL; STIGMA; ACCESS;
D O I
10.1371/journal.pone.0191412
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Background Safe and legal abortions are rarely practiced in the public health sector in Kenya, and rates of maternal mortality and morbidity from unsafe abortion is high. Little is known about women's experiences seeking and accessing abortion in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods Seven focus group discussions were conducted with a total of 71 women and girls recruited from an informal settlement in Nairobi. The interview guide explored participants' perceptions of unplanned pregnancy, abortion, and access to sexual and reproductive health information in their community. Thematic analysis of the focus group transcripts was conducted using MAX QDA Release 12. Results Participants described a variety of factors that influence women's experiences with abortion in their communities. According to participants, limited knowledge of sexual and reproductive health information and lack of access to contraception led to unplanned pregnancy among women in their community. Participants cited stigma and loss of opportunities that women with unplanned pregnancies face as the primary reasons why women seek abortions. Participants articulated stigma as the predominant barrier women in their communities face to safe abortion. Other barriers, which were often interrelated to stigma, included lack of education about safe methods of abortion, perceived illegality of abortion, as well as limited access to services, fear of mistreatment, and mistrust of health providers and facilities. Conclusions Women in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya face substantial barriers to regulating their fertility and lack access to safe abortion. Policy makers and reproductive health advocates should support programs that employ harm reduction strategies and increase women's knowledge of and access to medication abortion outside the formal healthcare system.
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页数:13
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