This archive report was first published on 1 September 2019.
Infertility in Kenya: A Growing Health Crisis ¶
Published on September 1, 2019
Infertility in Kenya is a death sentence for those who cannot have a child for whatever reason. The society puts a lot of emphasis on having children by men and women when they hit a certain age, leading to a lot of misunderstanding of the circumstances surrounding childlessness.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), infertility is classified as a disease, defined as the inability to become pregnant after 12 months of regular unprotected sex. In Kenya, most infertility is caused by chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease that is treatable but can cause long-term problems if left untreated.
With multiple sexual partners among some Kenyans, chlamydia is spreading further, making it a health crisis. The disease is often delayed in getting treatment, which can cause long-term problems like infertility.
While some couples wait to have children conventionally due to financial constraints, those who take the less travelled road may end up with a child or a huge cost with nothing to show for the money they spend trying to get a child.
There are several reasons why a couple may have challenges conceiving, including blocked fallopian tubes, the presence of fibroids, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, lack of ovulation, cancer treatments, sexually transmitted diseases, pelvic tuberculosis, nonsterile abortions, or a ruptured appendix in women.
For men, a low sperm count, heavy alcohol consumption, and smoking, blocked tubes, producing antibodies against their own sperm, a male with XX instead of XY sex chromosomes, and having an extra X chromosome are some of the causes of male infertility.
Infertility treatment costs in Kenya are prohibitive to many, with a growing demand for fertility treatment in the country. While most couples used to travel outside the country for such treatments, they can now be offered in the country, but the costs remain high.
Not less than two million couples in Kenya required assisted reproductive technology according to a 2011 study by the Aga Khan University Hospital. However, the study showed that majority of these couples could not afford the services since even insurance companies do not cover in vitro fertilisation costs.
There are a few options for assisted conception, with IVF topping the list as the most expensive, costing around Ksh500,000. Other options include medicated conception, where women are prescribed Clomiphene citrate (Clomid), and intrauterine insemination, which involves giving medication to the woman and then placing the sperm in the uterus.
While the WHO recognizes infertility as a disease, the national insurer NHIF does not cover it, making an out-of-pocket spending for anyone seeking treatment.
However, CIC Group has unveiled a scheme to cover insured persons against fertility challenges, applicable for schemes with outpatient and maternity benefits. The cover will be applicable to a couple who have a history of medically tested fertility challenges.
Patients with a single ovary or a history of previous ovarian surgery are also eligible, with CIC promising to finance the entire end-to-end process from testing, treatment, and post-treatment reviews up to the agreed benefit limit.
Legislators Millie Odhiambo and her counterpart then Joyce have been pushing for the easing of the requirements for those willing to adopt children. In 2015, Odhiambo sponsored the In-Vitro Fertilisation Bill, and last year, she re-introduced the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill 2016.
