𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 🔔 What is the burden of post-abortion complications in Kenya, and how are they being managed? Our latest publication, Severity and Management of Postabortion Complications in Kenya: Results from a Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Survey, provides new national evidence on the severity, patterns, and management of postabortion complications. Drawing on clinical data from 4,666 post-abortion care patients across 367 health facilities, the article documents a significant shift over the past decade: ✅ Severe post-abortion complications dropped from 37% (2012) to under 18% (2023) ✅ Mild complications more than doubled — from 23% to 54% ✅ Expanded primary healthcare access and increased availability of medication abortion are likely contributing to this trend. But progress has not reached everyone equally. Economically vulnerable women facing food insecurity, low levels of education, or inability to meet basic household needs carry a disproportionately higher risk of severe complications. Women who used non-recommended abortion methods were 2.56 times more likely to experience a severe outcome. 📄 Read the full article here: buff.ly/wnR7bo9 ✍🏽Authored by @JumaKenneth , @dibabay, @IAkuku, Margaret Giorgio, @Onykepe and Caitlin Rich 📋Access the full study report here: buff.ly/0Vp0dgX #PostabortionCare #MaternalHealth #ReproductiveHealth #Kenya #GlobalHealth #EvidenceForAction #APHRCResearch @CKyobutungi @DMdiarafa @doris_omao @MangwanaVJ @amveyange @RatemoJuliet @williamsila @deborahndlovu @ndonyesarah @DorcasOdhiambo @dia_diama @MuliDavis @CharityWaweru @AswaniStella @Waithaka_KE @isabelmutuku1

#IamAPHRC is at the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights (ACHPR). The Center, represented by @Chris_Maero in collaboration with the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Center for Human Rights (University of Pretoria), and Mama Network will host a panel discussion on October 23 to discuss Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Access to Safe Abortion in Africa by sharing evidence and experiences to strengthen policies and programs for young people’s health and rights. #ACHPR85 #SRHR #APHRCResearch @ReproRightsAFR @UPTuks @themamanetwork @CwKabiru @sida @JumaKenneth @MangwanaVJ @isabelmutuku1 @aiajayi @EmmanuelOtukpa @OpondoAchy @dmdiarafa @amveyange @CKyobutungi

Today, on International Safe Abortion Day 2025, we share findings from a recent study by APHRC, @Guttmacher and @MOH_Kenya. 🔗aphrc.org/publication/incide… 🔹 Nearly 793,000 abortions occurred in Kenya in 2023; 57 per 1,000 women of reproductive age, with adolescents (15–19 yrs) accounting for 1 in 4 abortions 🔹 1 in 6 women treated for complications faced life-threatening conditions 🔹 Only 18% of primary facilities could provide basic post-abortion care These numbers indicate a health system that is unprepared to meet women’s needs. Restrictive laws do not stop abortion; they only make it unsafe. The #ISAD2025 theme, “Safe Abortion is Life-Saving Healthcare” reminds us that abortion is a healthcare service. Access to safe abortion prevents injury and death, protects dignity, and is essential to maternal and public health. There is need to: strengthen post-abortion care, train and equip providers, and expand access to contraceptives. Safe abortion saves lives! #ISAD2025 #SRHR #SRHRForAll #EndUnsafeAbortion #ReproductiveRightsAreHumanRights @jumakenneth @mangwanavj @doris_omao @isabelmutuku1 @njerimbuthia @cwkabiru @chris_maero @aiajayi @DMdiarafa @amveyange @CKyobutungi

A new @Nature article by @BonnieUshie, @giorgio_maggie, #IamAPHRC’s @JumaKenneth & @IAkuku finds induced abortion is often underreported by women and misdiagnosed by providers in Kenya, Liberia & Sierra Leone. Learn more: buff.ly/ssp2W6L. #ReproductiveHealth #PublicHealthResearch #APHRCResearch #EvidenceForPolicy @Guttmacher @CKyobutungi @amveyange @Dmdiarafa @CwKabiru @isabelmutuku1 @aiajayi @doris_omao @EmmanuelOtukpa @OpondoAchy @Chris_Maero @njerimbuthia

Menstruation is still silenced and stigmatized, leaving many girls unprepared. With 5 years to the SDGs, let’s make menstrual health a priority for SRHR and equity. 🔗 buff.ly/506NbJB #MenstrualHealth #PeriodPositive #PeriodFriendlyWorld #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch @CwKabiru @CarolWainaina78 @aiajayi @njerimbuthia @Chris_Maero @JumaKenneth @isabelmutuku1 @MangwanaVJ @OpondoAchy @doris_omao @DMdiarafa @amveyange @CKyobutungi

🚨 Webinar Alert! Join us in marking the International Day of Action for Women’s Health! We stand up for every woman's right to life, sexual and reproductive health, freedom from torture, and equality without discrimination. 📅Wednesday, May 28, 2025 🕙 2:00 – 3:30 EAT 🔗 Registration: buff.ly/osRQUIH The webinar will focus on understanding the decision of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Communication 564/2015: Community Law Centre and Others (On Behalf of the Five Victims) vs Federal Republic of Nigeria. #SRHR #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch #InternationalDayofActionforWomensHealth @sida @KELINKenya @UWC_DOI @hrw @ReproRightsAFR @CwKabiru @JumaKenneth @isabelmutuku1 @MangwanaVJ @OpondoAchy @dmdiarafa @amveyange @CKyobutungi

“Despite advancements in adolescent sexual and reproductive health, education, and policy across Africa, the disproportionately low resource allocation for their overall health and well-being, particularly amidst declining foreign aid, presents a serious concern for African nations. To address this, African nations must urgently create robust, multi-sectoral programs that enhance adolescent health and well-being and invest in building robust data systems to track progress and enhance accountability accurately. Crucially, these actions must be directly informed by the voices of young Africans,” @CwKabiru #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch @TheLancet @CforAH @IHME_UW @MassGenBrigham @JohnsHopkinsSPH @aiajayi @njerimbuthia @Chris_Maero @JumaKenneth @isabelmutuku1 @MangwanaVJ @OpondoAchy @doris_omao @DMdiarafa @amveyange @CKyobutungi

Earlier today, #IamAPHRC’s Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) team hosted @Sida regional team on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights(SRHR), led by Elisabeth Harleman, Head of Sida’s Regional SRHR Strategy in Africa. The team had engaging discussions on the Challenging the Politics of Social Exclusion program. Led by Joseph Gichuru, Deputy Executive Director, the APHRC team shared insights on the regional SRHR landscape and plans for Phase 2 of the program. The teams exchanged perspectives, identified areas for continued collaboration, and explored new opportunities to strengthen the program and advance SRHR across the region. #SRHR #APHRCResearch #WeAreAfrica @CKyobutungi @GichuruJw @amveyange @CwKabiru @JumaKenneth @MangwanaVJ @isabelmutuku1 @aiajayi @EmmanuelOtukpa @OpondoAchy @Chris_Maero @is

📢 FINDINGS OUT! The study reveals that induced abortions remain a common experience for Kenyan women—with an estimated 792,694 abortions in 2023, translating to 57 per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15–49 years). While there's been a notable decline in unintended pregnancies, over half still end in abortion. Encouragingly, more women are now seeking timely post-abortion care (PAC), especially for mild complications, and doing so at public and lower-level health facilities. But serious gaps remain—less than 20% of primary healthcare facilities meet the basic standards for comprehensive PAC services. #SRHR #PublicHealth #APHRCResearch #ResearchForChange #EvidenceToAction #WeAreAfrica @ReproRightsAFR @KELINKenya @rhnkorg @TICAH_KE @NAYAKENYA @ZAMARA_fdn @KenyaSRHR @CSA_Kenya