Determinants of sexual behaviour patterns among adolescents in Laikipia District, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Twenty five percent of the world's population is between 10-24 years of age. With increasing social and peer pressures on young people to be sexually active and, in the case of boys, to have several different partners, reproductive health problems and deaths are common among sexually active adolescents. Epidemiological studies 'have revealed the existence of a pattern including age, gender, social economic status and sexuality, predisposes some young people to be more at risk of becoming infected with sexuality transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV than others. Literature reviewed from Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys (KDHS) and various studies, gives a general overview of adolescents' sexuality around the globe, in Sub Saharan Africa and Kenya. But there is minimal data for Laikipia district emanating from these studies or National Health Surveys. These studies and surveys revealed that adolescents' level of knowledge of the risks involved in early and unprotected sexual activity does not reduce their risky sexual behaviour. Settings:A study was carried out in Laikipia district in July 2004 among 15-19 year old adolescents in school and out of school. Objective: The study was undertaken to determine the sexual behaviour patterns among adolescents in Laikipia district. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Subjects: Data was obtained from 477, male and female, adolescents aged between 15- 19 years. Method: - Self administered questionnaires and 6 focus group discussions were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data Statistical Package for Social Sciences - SPSS - was used to analyse the generated data. Results: The findings of the study revealed that 39.0% of adolescents in Laikipia were sexually active by age 19 which is lower than the 85% and 60% noted in the KDHS, 1998 and 2003 respectively. Levels of sexual activity of adolescents in Laikipia are also lower than the 80010 for Sub Saharan Africa, as revealed by Noble, Cover, Yanagishita, (1996). The study being in a rural setting revealed that sexual activity of adolescents in Laikipia, is lower than the 58% of a rural setting revealed in a study done by Maggwa (1987) and by KDHS (1993). Conclusion: This study found out that the main variables affecting sexual behaviour in 15-19 year old adolescents in Laikipia were gender, religion, whether an adolescent was in school or not, and perception. Teachers, parents and Health Education Programmes were the most popular methods of disseminating information to the youth. Recommendations: As such, the study recommends that the Government of Kenya should encourage the Protestant and Catholic churches in their role in reducing sexual activity among the youth and that the relevant reproductive health messages should be designed with clarity for the youth. NGO's and programme implementers should address sexual health issues before adolescents start engaging in sexual activity (age 10-15 is suggested). Finally Ministry of Education should review the role of Family Life Education with a view to re-introducing it in Schools' Curricula.