Sexuality experiences of secondary school students in Nakuru, Kenya: a cross-sectional study

Afr Health Sci. 2018 Jun;18(2):209-217. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v18i2.3.

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a phase where one is inquisitive about sex and sexuality. It is but natural to exchange the half-baked feelings and experiences with peers. These days the environment that includes public media has sexually suggestive flavors.

Objective: This study was conducted to find out the sexual experiences of a selected, few school going adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing stratified sampling to enroll 200 students from secondary schools in Nakuru County, Kenya. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was entered and analyzed in SPSS® version 22. Chi-square test of independence and Fisher's Exact Test were performed to test for associations.

Results: The study found that a large number have had sexual experiences of varying type. It was interesting to learn from the survey that a large number of older adolescents wish that their parents should have talked to them about sexual matters. There is a general conservative outlook that the students had. Although a small percentage had sexual experiences at a very young age, many of them valued ethics and morality.

Conclusion: There is urgency for intervention by the parents and the church in filing the gap in sexual knowledge.

Keywords: Nakuru, Kenya; Sexuality experiences; secondary school students.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Kenya
  • Male
  • Schools*
  • Sexual Behavior*
  • Sexuality*
  • Students / psychology
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires