Abortion stigma a possible death sentence for Kenyan women
Many women will do anything to avoid that fate, from drinking bleach to using knitting needles or clothes hangers to end their pregnancies
Stay updated with breaking news from Samson Otiago. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Many women will do anything to avoid that fate, from drinking bleach to using knitting needles or clothes hangers to end their pregnancies
Victoria Atieno was waiting at a Nairobi bus stop when she felt blood gush from her body, the result of a secret, self-induced abortion - a method used by thousands of Kenyan women, with potentially fatal consequences.
Even a reproductive health counsellor like Atieno -- her mind blanketed with fear -- ended up gulping down a herbal concoction to induce an abortion in secret
Kenya's constitution eased access to abortions in 2010 but unsafe procedures remain rampant. Every week, 23 women die from botched abortions, according to a 2012 study by the health ministry
Abortion stigma a possible death sentence for Kenyan women