Abstract:
Background: Risky behaviors related to sexual practice in adolescents have taken
much of the attention worldwide. Adolescence provides a challenging development
period for young people across the globe. Adolescent fertility and sexuality is a major
public health issue in Kenya.
Objective: The main aim of this study was to establish the factors which contribute to
risky sexual behavior among adolescents.
Methods: The study was carried out in Kibera informal settlement. Quantitative
methods of data collection were used in the form of self-administered questionnaires
in the selected households. Data was collected on socio-demographic, economic,
social and cultural factors. Descriptive statistics, chi square goodness of fit test and
multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied at 95% confidence intervals.
Results: A total of 408 adolescents between the age of 13 years and 19 years were
interviewed. There was a negative correlation (-0.334 P < 0.01) between age and
respondents having ever engaged in sexual intercourse. A strong significance was
found between respondents having ever engaged in sex and source of sex information
from parents [0.005(.496)] and Media [0.036(2)]. There was a protective effect
against indulgence in sex when parents educated the adolescents on the same. Age at
sexual debut and being influenced into sex was positively associated with gender with
the odds of having sex at an early age among girls being 4 times higher compared to
males. Female adolescents were 3 times likely to be influenced into having sex as
compared to their male counterparts. The use of drugs was strongly related to having
sexual intercourse with the odds of engaging in sexual intercourse being 7.6 times
higher among drug or alcohol users.
Conclusions: Risky sexual behavior was strongly influenced by cultural practices and
social factors like peer influence, and consumption of alcohol and/or drugs as well as
age and gender.
Recommendations: There is need to enhance guidance and counseling of adolescents
in Kibera. Parental guidance is necessary for promoting good sexual health.
Institutions of learning are well placed in continuing sex education; however, this
should be introduced in early years of education. To discourage harmful cultural
practices, it is necessary to have alternative rites of passage as opposed to wife
inheritance and sexual cleansing. There is need for law enforcement in order to curb
the use of drugs among children less than 18 years of age. Parents need to monitor
closely the use of drugs among their children