Written question asked by Chris McCafferty (Labour) on Friday, 26 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 April 2010. It was answered by Gareth Thomas (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Kenya: Family Planning

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate reproductive health and access to reproductive rights in Kenya, with particular reference to family planning and safe abortion services; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Department for International Development's (DFID) Essential Health Services programme in Kenya is improving the quality of maternal and neonatal health services for 2.2 million poor Kenyans in rural areas. The support has increased the number of births at which a skilled birth attendant was present from 23 per cent. to 32 per cent. between 2006 and 2009.DFID is supporting advocacy for safe motherhood and safe abortion through Kenya White Ribbon Alliance. We have helped increase access to modern contraceptive methods through the social marketing of family planning commodities such as oral contraceptives. DFID distributed 195 million condoms between 2002 and 2009. DFID support from 2009 to 2015 will avert 770,800 unwanted pregnancies in Kenya.

Secondary information