Health Ministry: Contraceptives uptake has declined by 14.4%

Acting Health Director General Patrick Amoth has reported a 14.4% decline in the use of contraceptives among women of reproductive health. 

Amoth, who was speaking during his weekly Twitter segment dubbed Ask the DG, said the use of contraceptives declined from 44% in 2019/2020 to 29.6% in 2020/2021, linking 

linked the decline to Covid-19 disruption. 

The goal of the Ministry of Health is to avert unintended pregnancies and it plans to do so by 

to avert unintended pregnancies, the Health Director added. 

The conversation coincided with the commemoration of the Contraceptives Day. 

Amoth said, "In Kenya, contraceptives use among women of reproductive health has been on an upward trajectory from 37.2% in 2017/18 to 44% in 2019/2020. This rate has declined to 29.6% in 2020/21, due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

However, Kenya is among leading countries in the uptake of modern contraceptives in sub-Saharan Africa, Amoth noted. 

According to the 2021 World Population Data Sheet, Kenya is the fourth country with slightly over 60% use of modern contraceptives in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Zimbabwe and Eswatini are at 66% and Lesotho is at 65%. 

In 2020, injectables were the most common contraceptive method used at 54.1%, followed by the male condoms used at 13.8%, implants at 13% and the pill at 12.7%.

Intrauterine devices were scored at 3.9% and emergency contraception were at 1.6%. 

Female condoms, which were less dominant methods of contraception, were at 0.8%.