Abstract
Background: Aggregate trauma symptom scores can obscure which experiences respondents reported. Objective: This paper proposes a post hoc, item-level descriptive objective using Mitheu's 2020 thesis; it was not an original thesis objective. Methods: Frequency counts in the thesis intrusion, avoidance and arousal tables for 192 postabortion-care patients were audited. Fifteen of 17 items had five response counts summing to 192 and were retained. Endorsement was defined in the thesis as occasionally, often or very often. Wilson 95% intervals describe each item proportion. No item-level joint data were available. Results: The three auditable intrusion items had endorsement proportions of 67.2%-74.5%; seven avoidance items, 68.8%-77.6%; and five arousal items, 69.3%-76.6%. Avoidance of related thoughts and of reminders each had 149 of 192 (77.6%) endorsements. Persistent guilt was 147 of 192 (76.6%). Two other intrusion rows had inconsistent totals or percentages and were excluded pending data verification. Conclusion: A broad range of symptom items was commonly endorsed in this referral sample. These frequencies do not establish PTSD diagnoses, a causal effect of an abortion, or relative domain burden. Private, voluntary discussion and referral may be appropriate when patients report distress.
Publication details
Article URL: https://www.nijamss.org/articles/nijamss-v1s2-aug2026-037/
Full-text PDF: https://www.nijamss.org/articles/nijamss-v1s2-aug2026-037/full-text.pdf
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Citation
Daniel A. Otwori; Eunice K. Mitheu. Item-Level Trauma Symptom Patterns among Women Receiving Postabortion Care at Nakuru Level Five Referral Hospital, Kenya. Nexus International Journal of Applied Science, Medicine and Social Sciences, Vol. 1, Issue 2, August 2026.