Correlation of unsafe abortion and HIV Seropositive status among Women of reproductive age in a National Referral Hospital in Kenya

Abstract

Introduction: Unsafe abortion is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in Kenya. In the developing world approximately 35 million people live with HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to establish the correlation between unsafe abortion and HIV seropositive status.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. at a statistical threshold of p<0.05.

Findings: Seventy-two women of reproductive age participated in the study. Proportion of unsafe abortion was high among respondents aged 20 years. Among 33% of the participants who had ever been pregnant, 66% procured an unsafe abortion. The study depicted an association between knowledge of HIV status and the participants decision to procure unsafe abortion (p=0.0023). Similarly, women who had ever had an abortion in their previous pregnancies were more likely to procure an abortion on learning their HIV seropositive status (OR- 8.504, p=< 0.0001).

Conclusion: HIV seropositive status influences women’s decision to procure unsafe abortion. Therefore, there is need for improved access to sexual and reproductive health services within the four-pronged context of elimination of Mother to Child Transmission(eMTCT).