Adolescent Sexuality and Fertility in Kenya: A Survey of Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practices

Abstract

This article presents findings from a survey conducted in Kenya in 1985 of the reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among more than 3,000 unmarried Kenyan youth, students and nonstudents, between the ages of 12 and 19. The survey was designed to elicit information that would be useful in gauging the kinds of problems Kenyan adolescents face in order to design programs that meet their needs. The study shows that although a solid majority of adolescents appear to have received information on reproductive health, the quality of the information is generally low. Fewer than 8 percent could correctly identify the fertile period in a woman's menstrual cycle. A substantial proportion of the population surveyed, more than 50 percent, is sexually active, having initiated intercourse some time between 13 and 14 years of age, on average. In spite of a general disapproval of premarital sex (but approval of the use of contraceptives among the sexually active), most of the sexually active population--89 percent--have never used contraceptives. The many contradictions between attitudes and practices pose serious questions and demonstrate the need to reexamine the programs (and policies) that provide access to reproductive health services to adolescents in Kenya.

Teenage pregnancy contextualized: understanding reproductive intentions in a Brazilian shantytown

“…However, throughout the process of data collection, it became clear that the lack of information about their sexuality and reproductive system was a major determinant of unplanned pregnancies, especially for 13-year-olds and those who became pregnant soon after their first intercourse. Dialogues about sex and contraception are inexistent within the family domain, and the formal knowledge acquired at school doubtfully covers all their queries 20,22,23,35 .…”

“…This was true for most girls who got pregnant very early, showing insufficient or inadequate knowledge on the matter, including formal knowledge gained at school 20,22,23 .…”

“…Possibly ill-use or simultaneous consumption of other medicines, such as antibiotics, added to the fact that over-the-counter drugs do not come with the doctor's recommendations. Perhaps, as Ajayi et al 20 and Juarez 21 point out, sporadic sex may help determine contraceptive choices. Young women might choose to interrupt the use of long-lasting contraception, such as the pill, in the absence of a stable relationship, thus becoming more exposed to unplanned pregnancies in the event of unprotected sex.…”

An Assessment of the Awareness of Sexual and Reproductive Rights among Adolescents in South Western Nigeria

“…20 It could then be confirmed that there is a great unmet need for services, but awareness and psychological access are essential. Several studies in Africa have reported difficulty in obtaining contraception, infrequent or unplanned sexual activity, opposition from partner and religious proscription 2,4,12 as the main reasons for low adoption of contraceptive usage. The above indices of adolescents' health status in Nigerian states have suggested the need for individuals to accord adolescents the universal right to sexual and reproductive health, in order to reduce the risks of teenage pregnancies, STDs and HIV/ AIDS.…”

Reforming African Abortion Laws to Achieve Transparency: Arguments from Equality

“…Even where the law permits abortion, adolescents are more likely than their adult counterparts to delay or avoid accessing safe abortion services due to ignorance about pregnancy or availability of safe, legal services, and above all, the desire to conceal the pregnancy from the family and continue with school, and lack of means or capacity to afford, on their own, the cost of safe abortion services. 48 Lack of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive healthcare services, and uncertainty among providers whether minors can legally access abortion services without the involvement of their parents serve as additional barriers to access. 49 Amongst all regions, the SubSaharan region has the highest proportion of women aged 15-19 years who have recourse to unsafe abortion.…”