Limping and exhausted, 30-year-old Mia Ndambuki sits beside her hospital bed, her sleepless eyes reflecting pain and despair. After three miscarriages and enduring months of post-abortion care, Mia recalls the devastating moment she learned of her non-viable pregnancy, diagnosed as a blighted ovum.
Following a procedure to clean her womb, Mia experienced severe bleeding and pain, later learning she had an incomplete abortion, requiring surgery. Despite her emotional and physical struggles, she faces societal pressures tied to pregnancy and the lingering impact of her miscarriages.
Mia’s experience is not unique. Mwea Njoki, another patient, also grapples with the emotional toll of losing a pregnancy, battling feelings of guilt and stigma. Through counselling, she found some relief, but many women, like Mia and Njoki, face societal shame and inadequate access to post-abortion care services.
Healthcare professionals stress the importance of both medical and surgical post-abortion care, advising women to delay pregnancies for proper recovery. However, stigma, cultural barriers, and a shortage of trained staff hinder access to these vital services, leaving many women to suffer in silence.
