Sexual activity and contraceptive use among adolescent women in Kenya

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine how various socio-economic, sociocultural and demographic variables interact to affect adolescent sexual behaviour and how these interactions further affect contraception behaviour. The data used was drawn from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS, 1998). The study used logistic regression, cross-tabulation and chi-square methods of analysis. Chi-square statistics were used to determine the significance of the association between selected demographic, socio-economic and cultural variables and sexual activity and contraceptive use. The findings of the study have underscored the importance of socio-economic, demographic and cultural factors as far as adolescents' sexual behaviour and contraceptive use are concerned. The results provide further evidence of these characteristics, in shaping the lives of adolescents particularly their knowledge about adverse consequences of early sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and other reproductive health issues such as fertile days and sexually transmitted infections. Findings of the study revealed that female adolescents, especially those in the rural areas, engage in sexual intercourse at a very early age. The mean age for female adolescents aged 15 - 19 years was approximately 9 years. Concerning the sexual partners, majority professed that they had regular partners but contraceptive use was found to be low. However, contraceptive use generally increased with an increase in age. • Acknowledge that adolescent girls' lives are often governed by harmful, culturally sanctioned gender rules imposed by males, parents, and other elders and perpetuated at times by girls themselves. • Expand girls' social participation, schooling, and econormc opportunities, understanding that these are basic entitlements and that they frame girls, reproductive behaviour. • Recognize that a large proportion of adolescent girls are already Wives and mothers, who need support and investment at least as much as do their unmarried female peers.