NIJAMSS peer-reviewed article

Prevalence of Elevated Post-Traumatic Stress Symptom Scores among Women Receiving Postabortion Care at Nakuru Level Five Referral Hospital, Kenya

Eunice Kanini Mitheu; Daniel A. Otwori

Abstract: Background: Psychological support may be relevant during postabortion care, but self-report symptom scores should not be equated with a clinical diagnosis. Objective: To estimate the distribution of post-traumatic stress symptom scores among women receiving postabortion services at Nakuru Level Five Referral Hospital. Methods: This secondary manuscript reports Objective One of a 2020 cross-sectional thesis. The thesis sampled 192 women and used a modified 17-item, five-response symptom scale. Frequencies across five thesis-defined score bands and mean scores for three symptom domains were extracted. A Wilson 95% interval was calculated for scores at or above 38. Results: Of 192 respondents, 25 (13.0%) were classified as little or no symptoms, 17 (8.9%) mild, 6 (3.1%) moderate, 13 (6.8%) high, and 131 (68.2%) severe. Thus 150 of 192 (78.1%; Wilson 95% CI 71.8-83.4%) scored at least 38 under the thesis threshold. Mean domain scores were 2.82 for intrusion, 3.02 for avoidance and 3.06 for arousal. Conclusion: Elevated symptom scores were common in this facility sample. Modified scale scoring, selection, timing and lack of diagnostic interview preclude a clinical PTSD prevalence estimate or causal inference about the preceding pregnancy event.

Keywords: Kenya; Nakuru; Postabortion care; Prevalence; Screening; Trauma symptoms

Journal

Nexus International Journal of Applied Science, Medicine and Social Sciences

e-ISSN

3144-2196

Publication date

August 2026

Volume / Issue

Vol. 1, Issue 2

Paper number

034

Article type

Original Research

Published paper ID

NIJAMSS-V1S2-AUG2026-034

Publisher

Nexus Academic Press

Access

Open Access

Full text PDF: https://www.nijamss.org/archives-download/nijamss-vol-1-series-2-august-2026-paper-034.pdf