NIJAMSS peer-reviewed article

Sociodemographic Characteristics and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptom Scores among Women Receiving Postabortion Care in Nakuru, Kenya

Eunice Kanini Mitheu; Daniel A. Otwori

Abstract: Background: Sociodemographic differences in distress among postabortion patients may help services offer responsive care, but symptom scores alone cannot establish diagnosis or causation. Objective: To describe the association of sociodemographic characteristics with post-traumatic stress symptom-score categories at Nakuru Level Five Referral Hospital. Methods: Seven five-category cross-tabulations reported in a 2020 cross-sectional thesis (n = 192) were re-tabulated, defining elevated scores as the three bands beginning at 38. Pearson chi-square statistics were recalculated from the displayed cell counts, and sparse expected counts were assessed. Results: Overall, 150 of 192 (78.1%) had scores of at least 38. Elevated-score proportions varied by age (74.6% at 15-24; 72.8% at 25-34; 94.6% at 35-44), previous births (55.8% with none; 91.7% with three or more), and other characteristics. Recalculated five-category chi-square statistics matched six thesis tables; the education table yielded chi-square (24) = 47.575, p = .00285, rather than its printed chi-square (28) = 70.511. Every cross-tabulation had many expected cells below five. Conclusion: The displayed counts suggest demographic variation in scores within this facility sample, but sparse cells, an instrument with incomplete local validation and the observational design limit statistical and clinical interpretation.

Keywords: Kenya; Postabortion care; Screening; Sociodemographic characteristics; 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

035

Article type

Original Research

Published paper ID

NIJAMSS-V1S2-AUG2026-035

Publisher

Nexus Academic Press

Access

Open Access

Full text PDF: https://www.nijamss.org/archives-download/nijamss-vol-1-series-2-august-2026-paper-035.pdf