A recent study has highlighted alarmingly low levels of sexual health knowledge and modern contraceptive use among women with disabilities across Africa, with Kenya among the countries recording the lowest usage rates.
In Kenya, only 14 per cent of women with disabilities use modern contraceptives, and just 16 per cent have good knowledge of sexual health. The situation is more positive in neighbouring Uganda, where 27 per cent use contraceptives and 31 per cent have moderate sexual health knowledge. Rwanda also records higher rates compared to Kenya.
The study reveals that women with disabilities in rural parts of Kenya are particularly disadvantaged, with regions such as Mandera, Wajir, and Marsabit showing the lowest contraceptive usage. Education plays a significant role, with more educated women demonstrating both higher contraceptive use and greater knowledge of sexual health.
Limited access to information, low education levels, and lack of community awareness are cited as key factors hindering women with disabilities from making informed reproductive choices. Despite policies and commitments at national and international levels, they continue to face significant barriers, including sexual and reproductive rights violations such as forced sterilisation, coerced abortions, lack of contraceptive options, and restricted access to sexual health services.
In addition to systemic neglect, women with disabilities are often exposed to sexual abuse and exploitation. The combination of poor access to modern contraceptives and low sexual health awareness heightens their vulnerability to unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections.
The study underlines the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve sexual and reproductive health services for women with disabilities. This includes ensuring inclusive health education, increasing community awareness, improving service accessibility in rural and marginalised regions, and enforcing protections against sexual and reproductive rights violations.
While some countries such as Uganda show progress, others including DR Congo, Chad, and Mauritania rank lowest in both contraceptive usage and sexual health knowledge among women with disabilities. Addressing these disparities is essential in reducing maternal mortality, preventing unsafe abortions, and safeguarding the reproductive rights of women with disabilities across the continent.
The findings serve as a call to action for governments, health organisations, and communities to close the gap and ensure that women with disabilities have equal access to sexual and reproductive health information, services, and choices.
