Relationship between Access to Reproductive Health Information and Risky Sexual Behaviours among Secondary School Adolescents in Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2020-02
Authors
Mureithi, Peris Murugi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Reproductive health information is critical to adolescents in empowering them make
sexual and reproductive health decisions. Studies have shown that adolescents in
secondary schools lack adequate, accurate and age appropriate reproductive health
information; though faced with unique sexual and reproductive health needs, making
them vulnerable to risky sexual activities and behaviours. The study aimed to determine
the relationship between access to reproductive health information and risky sexual
behaviours among secondary school adolescents in Kiambu County, Kenya. Specifically,
the study assessed the level of awareness, sources of reproductive health information,
adolescent perception on reproductive health information and influence of social cultural
factors on access to reproductive health information, in relation to risky sexual behaviour.
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study targeted 7002 adolescent students
from all the 13 public secondary schools in Thika West Sub-County. The following
schools were selected: Chania Girls’ Boarding School; Chania Boys’ Boarding School
and Broadway mixed day school with an accessible population of 2047 students. Fisher’s
formula was used to arrive at 364 respondents of which 10% was added to cater for
attrition, giving a sample of 400. Stratified sampling technique was adopted in selecting
participating schools; to allocate the sample in the respective strata. The study sampled
400-students, and their guidance and counselling teachers as the key informants. The
Researcher administered questionnaires, interview schedules (KII) and focus group
discussion guides (FGD) were used in data collection. Descriptive statistics included
mean, mode and percentages, while for inferential statistics chi square and binary logistic
regression was applied. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The
findings from the chi square relationship revealed that the risky sexual behaviour was low
at 44.7% as indicated by the students who had had sexual relationships. The study found
that there is less likelihood of risky sexual behaviour (by 0.571 times and by 0.349 times)
for those students who received information from teachers, school counsellors and
parents respectively. The relationship was found to be significant represented by a p
value of 0.001. The findings also revealed that there is less likelihood of risky sexual
behaviour (by 0.626 times, 0.648 times and by 0.629 times) for students who listened to
information, on contraceptives, safe sex and STIs respectively. This relationship was
found to be significant represented by a( p value of 0.020, 0.003 and 0.019) respectively.
The study found that there is less likelihood of risky sexual behaviour (by 0.2012 times,
by 0.591 times, by 0.6211 times and by 0.359 times) for those students who found
reproductive health information easily available, very useful, and easy to understand and
apply respectively. The conclusion of the study was that access to reproductive health
information among adolescents in Thika sub-county was statistically significant in
relation to risky sexual behaviours. The study recommends that adolescents should be
equipped with adequate age appropriate reproductive health information as early as
possible, and consistently made accessible throughout their lives to enable them in make
sound sexual and reproductive health decisions thus reducing risky sexual behaviour.
Description
A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Health (Reproductive Health), in the School of Public Health of Kenyatta University. February, 2020
Keywords
Relationship, Reproductive Health Information, Risky Sexual Behaviours, Secondary School, Adolescents, Kiambu County, Kenya