Demand for Contraception after Self -Managed Medical Abortion: The Case of Nakuru County, Kenya

This study examined demographic and socioeconomic determinants of post-medical abortion contraceptive demand using data from 401 women who obtained medical abortion drugs at 21 pharmacies in Nakuru, Kenya, as part of the PMAC project pilot. A probit model was used to identify key factors. Although 60% of women initially chose to bundle abortion drugs with contraceptives, only 43% used contraception after self- managed abortion. Socioeconomic factors such as effective demand, exposure to contraceptive promotional interventions, abortion decision-making, and prior contraceptive use significantly influenced post-abortion contraceptive uptake, alongside demographic factors like age, marital status, and education level. The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of contraceptive decision-making following self-managed abortion, shaped by both individual and contextual factors. The study concludes that aligning decision- support strategies and targeted interventions may help increase contraceptive use post-abortion, informing policy and programmatic approaches in similar contexts.