Country Context: Kenya
In 2010, the Kenyan government enacted a new constitution that aimed at ensuring the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including that of sexual and reproductive health. Herein, the government recognized that access to sexual health-related education and reproductive information is an underlying determinant of inclusive right to health, and falls under international and African regional human rights law.
Despite this, and in a situation much similar to the one in India, a continued lack of access to information as well as the consequent inaccessibility to reproductive health services orchestrate the ongoing narrative for Kenyan girls and women who are regularly met with unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, high maternal mortality, morbidity rates and HIV infection ratios.
Early pregnancies
Data collected by the Center for Reproductive Rights show that as of 2014, 50% of women between the ages of 20-49 years had their first sexual intercourse by 18 years of age. Almost one-quarter of women in the country had given birth by the age of 18 and nearly half by age 20. As of 2016, only 41% of sexually active adolescents were using any contraceptive methods while 93% of sexually active and unmarried adolescent girls wished to avoid pregnancy within the following two years. By the end of 2017, however, it was reported that over 378,000 adolescent girls between ages 10-19 had became pregnant between July 2016 and June 2017, causing most to also drop out of school.
Unsafe abortions and HIV trends
These trends not only highlight an unmet need for family planning in the country but also, and more importantly, reflect the unsafe trends surrounding sexual and reproductive health practices. Today, the incidences of unsafe and unprotected sex leave 70% of women and girls seeking abortion and/or post-abortion care while 44,800 new HIV infections (on average) are highlighted yearly across the country.
High maternal mortality
Such factors have also contributed to the high maternal mortality rates in Kenya, with the World Bank reflecting 510 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (2015), 266 of which are attributed to unsafe abortion practices, and therefore even recognized as preventable.
Better access to sexual and reproductive resources is key
Looking at these patterns, it is important to recognize that access to safe and affordable sexual and reproductive health knowledge and resources is key in protecting women's health and promoting their sexual and reproductive rights. In this, there remains a significant need to support the development and rollout of information on sexual and reproductive health as well as to provide funds and expertise to ensure the provision for appropriate and affordable healthcare services.
Amirrah in Kenya
Amirrah’s efforts in Kenya are primarily focused on disseminating information and making sexual and reproductive healthcare more affordable for local populations. We look to empower young women with healthy and safer sexual practices that not only allow them to avoid unintended pregnancies but also protect them from sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and AIDS. To achieve this we partner with other, like-minded organizations and government institutions to foster the kind of change needed to accelerate women’s health in regions across the country with our main operational location based out of Nairobi. Lastly, we also provide services to ensure maternal mental and physical health in the post-abortion/ postpartum phases as well as look to support their children's cognitive and physical development via our specialized programs.