Adolescent Reproductive Health

Adolescent Reproductive Health: 2005 -2008

An outcome assessment of an ABC-based HIV peer education intervention among Kenyan university students.

Author:Miller AN; Mutungi M; Facchini E; Barasa B; Ondieki W

Source:Journal of Health Communication. 2008 Jun;13(4):345-356.

Abstract: This study reports an outcome assessment on an HIV peer education

intervention at the main campus of KenyattaUniversity in Nairobi, Kenya. A quasi-experimental separate sample pretest-posttest design was used. Campus-wide baseline and endline surveys were conducted with 632 and 746 students, respectively, soliciting information on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. After 2 years of on-campus intervention, no changes in behavior were evident with respect to either abstinence or number of sexual partners. Small but statistically significant changes were found in condom attitudes and behavior, and a large increase in HIV testing was evident. It is recommended that future research more specifically compare abstinence versus multiple option peer education programs, giving special attention to the role of peer educators as models. (author's)

Language: English

Document Number: 327076

Effectiveness of web-based education on Kenyan and Brazilian adolescents’ knowledge about HIV/AIDS, abortion law, and emergency contraception: Findings from TeenWeb.

Author: Halpern CT; Mitchell EM; Farhat T; Bardsley P

Source: Social Science and Medicine. 2008 Aug;67(4):628-637.

Abstract: Little evidence is available about the utility of web-based health education for students in low resource settings. This paper reports results from an evaluation of the TeenWeb project, a multi-year, web-based health education intervention implemented in two urban settings: Nairobi, Kenya (N = 1178 school students) and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (N= 714 school students). A quasi-experimental, school-based pre-test/post-test design was implemented at each study site to determine if easy access to web-based reproductive health information, combined with intellectual "priming" about reproductive health topics, would result in improved knowledge and attitudes about topics such as condom use, access to HIV testing, emergency contraception and abortion laws. Students in web-access schools completed one web-based module approximately every 6-8 weeks, and in return, had access to the Internet for at least 30 min after completing each module. Although students were encouraged to access project-supplied web-based health information, freedom of web navigation was an incentive, so they could choose to access other Internet content instead. Most measures showed statistically significant differences between students in "web" and "comparison" conditions at post-test, but only about half of the differences were in the hypothesized direction. Results of an embedded experiment employing more directed feedback tripled the likelihood of correctly reporting the duration of emergency contraception effectiveness. Review of URL logs suggests that the modest results were due to inadequate exposure to educational materials. Future intervention should focus on teen's purposeful searching for health information when they are in personal circumstances of unmet health needs. (author's)

Language: English

Document Number: 327535

Factors associated with risky sexual behaviour among out-of-school youth in Kenya.

Author:Khasakhala AA; Mturi AJ

Source: Journal of Biosocial Science. 2008 Sep;50(5):641-653.

Abstract: This paper examines factors that may predispose unmarried and unemployed out-of-school youth to risky sexual behaviour. Data for analysis were derived from the Behaviour Surveillance Survey carried out in Kenya in late 2002. A total of 6129 male and female unmarried and unemployed out-of-school youth in the age range 15-24 years were successfully interviewed. However, for this paper only a sample of 3961 comprising sexually experienced youth in the 12 months preceding the survey was used. Methods of analysis included descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. Results for males indicate that factors associated with low and high risk were whether they had fathered a child, district of residence and frequency of alcohol use, while current age and age at first sexual debut stood out for those with low risk alone. For females the district of residence and age of partner at sexual debut were the factors that predisposed them to low-risk sexual behaviour, while for high risk the districtof residence, current age and ever being pregnant were significant. The results indicate that for these youth, contextual and probably social factors appear to be the main determinants of risky sexual behaviour for both males and females. The findings also support those of other studies that link risky sexual behaviour among youth, especially males, to alcohol consumption. Programmes for intervention therefore need to focus on these aspects. There is also a need for studies that can look at district-specific factors for more focused interventions. (author's)

Language: English

Document Number: 324183

Youth in Kenya: health and HIV. 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2003 KDHS).

Author: Kenya. Central Bureau of Statistics; Kenya. Ministry of Health; Kenya Medical Research Institute; ORC Macro. MEASURE DHS

Source: [Nairobi], Kenya, Central Bureau of Statistics, [2005]. 16 p.

Abstract: Young people today face many health-related challenges. This report is designed to help program managers, parents, church groups and other people and organizations working with youth to understand some of these challenges. Drawing from the most recent Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, this report outlines the latest information about Kenya's young people, age 15 to 24. The Demographic and Health Survey collected data from more than 11,500 women and men nationwide including more than 4,000 young women and men age 15-24. (excerpt)

Language: English

Document Number: 308353

Evaluating the Kenya Girl Guides Association's HIV / AIDS peer education program for younger youth: baseline results.

Author: Juma M; Mwaniki M; Muturi C

Source: Nairobi, Kenya, Population Council, Horizons, 2005 Nov. [10] p. (Horizons Research UpdateUSAID Cooperative Agreement No. HRN-A-00-97-00012-00)

Abstract: In Kenya, like in many other African countries, it is estimated that half of all new HIV infections occur among youth between the ages of 15 and 24 (CBS, MOH, and ORC Macro 2004; NASCOP 2003). However, many of these individuals are much younger when they initiate sexual activity. Survey data show that 13 percent of girls and 31 percent of boys have had sex by age 15 (CBS, MOH, and ORC Macro 2004). Unfortunately, few prevention programs exist to help younger youth, specifically those between the ages of 10 and 14 years, to delay their sexual debut and develop communication and relationship skills that will keep them uninfected. In response to this need, the Kenya Girl Guide Association (KGGA) and Family Health International (FHI)/Impact began a program, which was developed by PATH, in 1999 to train young Girl Guides as HIV peer educators in their schools. The project aims to improve knowledge and skills related to HIV prevention and care among Girl Guides and their peers. In collaboration with KGGA and FHI/Impact, the Horizons Program is currently conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention model in achieving the objectives of the peer education program. This research update presents baseline findings from the intervention study. (excerpt)

Language: English

Document Number: 307107

Fact sheet: Sobering facts on alcohol and teen pregnancy.

Author:National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Source: Washington, D.C., National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2005 Oct. [1] p.

Abstract: Teen sex combined with drug and/or alcohol use is increasing. Fully one-quarter of sexually experienced high school aged teens say they used alcohol and/or drugs the last time they had sex. The proportion of high school aged teens who used drugs and/or alcohol the last time they had sex has increased 18 percent----from 22% in 1991 to 25% in 2003. Lots of teens drink. Many start drinking in junior high and get drunk often. More than half of 8th graders and eight out of ten 12th graders have tried alcohol. Nearly 1/3 of all high school seniors say that most or all of their friends get drunk at least once a week. (excerpt)

Language: English

Document Number: 306838

Models of Care Project. Linking HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support in sexual and reproductive health care settings: examples in action.

Author:International Planned Parenthood Federation [IPPF]; Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit [GTZ]

Source: London, England, IPPF, 2005 Dec. 29 p.

Abstract: IPPF wishes to showcase different models using a variety of entry points to bring SRH closer to HIV/AIDS. The three types of examples in action covered in this booklet use these entry points: Better linking of prevention and care through providing ARVs and opportunistic infection (OI) services (our case studies on the Dominican Republic, Kenyaand Rwanda); Working with and developing programmes to reach specific populations (our case study on Colombia); Strengthening programming to address HIV/AIDS vulnerability and young people (our youth course). (excerpt)

Language: English

Document Number: 315097

Social scripts and stark realities: Kenyan adolescents' abortion discourse.

Author:Mitchell EM; Halpern CT; Kamathi EM; Owino S

Source: Culture, Health and Sexuality. 2006 Nov-Dec;8(6):515-528.

Abstract: This study explores students' narratives and discourses about adolescent pregnancy and abortion elicited via internet-based open-ended questions posed in response to a cartoon vignette. We report on content analysis of recommendations and strategies for how to manage the unplanned pregnancy of a fictional young couple and in their own personal lives. The responses of 614 young people were analysed. Strategies vary widely. They include giving birth, adoption, running away, abortion, denial, and postponement until discovery. Young people were also queried about unplanned pregnancy resolution among their peers. Discourse analysis reveals competing social scripts on abortion. Florid condemnation of abortion acts in the hypothetical cases contrasts with more frank and sober description of peers' real life abortion behaviour. Students' language is compared with that found in official curricula. The rhetorical devices, moralizing social scripts and dubious health claims about abortion in students' online narratives mirror the tenor and content of their academic curricula as well as Kenyan media presentation of the issue. The need for factual information, dispassionate dialogue and improved contraceptive access is considerable. (author's)

Language: English

Document Number: 310602

Condom use among sexually active Kenyan female adolescents at risk for HIV-1 infection.

Author:Cherutich P; Brentlinger P; Nduati R; Kiarie JN; Farquhar C

Source:AIDS and Behavior. 2008

Abstract:High rates of unintended pregnancy and HIV infection occur in sub-Saharan Africa yet few Kenyan studies have defined correlates of condom use in sexually active female adolescents. Female adolescents receiving reproductive health care and aged 15-19 were interviewed. The prevalence of ever-use of condom was 21.4% and 52 (7.3%) subjects were infected with HIV-1. Older age, higher levels of education, ever-use of hormonal contraceptives and higher numbers of sexual partners, non-consensual sex and exchange of sex for favours, were independent correlates of condom use. Condom use should be promoted in this population. Further exploration is needed on the developmental and contextual factors predisposing female adolescents to increased risk of HIV.

Language:English

Document Number:328121

Personal involvement of young people in HIV prevention campaign messages:the role of message format, culture, and gender.

Author: Geary CW; Burke HM; Johnson L; Liku J; Castelnau L

Source:Health Education and Behavior. 2008 April

Abstract:To examine young people's reactions to and understanding of HIV prevention messages developed for MTV's global HIV prevention campaign Staying Alive, videotaped campaign materials were shown to focus group discussion (FGD) participants living in urban areas of Brazil, Kenya, Nepal, and Senegal. Responses related to "personal involvement" with the message were identified in the data from these FGDs and were examined in relationship to the emerging message themes, the message format (public service announcements [PSAs] vs. documentary), cultural context (site), and participant gender. Across groups, greater personal involvement (measured by personal connections, emotional reactions, and lessons learned) was found in responses about the documentary format compared to the PSA format. Exceptions were found for specific PSAs that were considered more relevant within specific gender or cultural contexts. Implications of findings for global campaigns were considered.

Language: English