Some socio-economic and environmental determinants of adolescent sexuality and interventions in the city of Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Women all over the world are discriminated against right from birth in all areas of life including education, health and employment among others. Several efforts are, however, being made towards rectifying the situation. This problem is more precarious as a result of lack of adequate and complete female education, which is compounded by school-girls dropping out from school as a result of early pre-marital pregnancies. If early premarital sexual relationships can be discouraged then pre-marital pregnacies would be avoided and females can then be adequately equipped to compete for equal rights and fair treatment. The main objectives of the study is to find out some of the socio-environmental factors that influence the decision of an adolescent to initiate sexual relationships as well as find out to some extent the kind of solutions the youth themselves would like to see. The rationale of the study is that once the determinants of teenage premarital sex is known then preventing teenage pregnancies would become easier. The sample size of the study was 1,006 adolescent girls in forms two, three and four school-girls who were randomly selected from secondary schools in different parts of Nairobi city. In the crosss tabulation analysis, type of school attended by adolescent girls, (especially girls-only day and boarding schools). is a very important determining factor in adolescent premarital sex. Also significant are adolescent's knowledge of family life Location or any other sex related education, mother's age at first birth, mother's marital status at first birth, the absence of a close relationship between adolescents and their mothers, relationships with both the opposite sex and sexually active friends of the same sex, pregnancy to an unmarried sister or any other close family, and adequacy of pocket money. While the regression analysis found specifically that respondents whose mothers' were aged between 13 and 18 years at first birth and those who do not have adequate pocket money are more likely to influence an adolescents decision to go into premarital sex. So are respondents who do not have boyfriend, a sexually active close friend and who attend girls only type of schools are less likely to initiate premarital sexual relationships. There was no significant relationship between respondents aspirations for higher education, opinion about school, mother's current marital status and sex related discussions with mother by both the cross tabulation and regression analysis: While in addition to the above variables the presence of an unmarried pregnant sister or close family and close ;relationship with mother were not included in the regression equation. In conclusion, the major findings of the study were found to be things that are beyond the control of the adolescents except for the personal relationships the youths are involved in. Specifically adolescent relationships with other people including friends of both sexes, mothers and sisters were important factors vi In adolescent sexuality. Mothers are role models and they also spend more time with the children than any other family member. They should, therefore, strive for the removal of all situations that can corrupt their daughters and encourage them to engage in premarital sex. The respondents in this study also suggested parents as the ideal communication channel of the type of information and education they needed in this respect. The study therefore recommends that greater emphasis should be placed on information and education to the youths. In view of the relunctance on the part of policy-makers to take a firmer stand on the introduction of Family Life Education to schools in Nairobi, informal means of education should be devised by agencies i~terested in this issue. These organisations should bear in mind the early age of adolescents at first intercourse and should therefore design programmes to cater for such young ages. It is my -believe that the introduction of family life education or any other .. sex-related education to aadolescents in conjunction with career discussion will be an ideal approach that is not likely to be counter productive in any way at all. The study further recommends for studies of this nature in other parts of the country with, more variables other than those used in this study and with a different target group. There is need at this time for further investigations on the impact of family life education on adolescent sexuality