Perception of the Youth Aged 15 to 24 Years on Sexual Debut, Mitigation Strategies, and Associated Health Effects in Homa Bay County, Kenya
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Sexual debut refers to the initiation of sexual activity before individuals have reached emotional and physical maturity. Sexual debut among the youth in the age group of 15 to 24 is on the increase globally with an upsurge in reproductive health and social problems such as teenage pregnancy and early marriages. This research determined the perspective of the youth on the above issues and how they could be controlled. Homa Bay County recorded a fertility rate of 23% compared to a national prevalence of 15%. Ndhiwa Sub County had the highest birth rate of 33% in the County. The study objective was to examine the perception of youth regarding sexual debut, mitigation strategies, and associated health effects in Ndhiwa. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used and data was collected through questionnaire and focus group discussion. The primary study participants were single youths sampled as 273 and clustered as 141 females and 132 males. The married youths who participated in the focus group discussion were 13 of either gender. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. The findings showed that 61% of the respondents were involved in social relationships and only 14% talked of sexual relationships. 70% of the youths mainly get sexual behavior information from their peers while 26% get information from the media. The sociocultural factors enhancing sexual debut included peer influence, cultural activities and parents not discussing sexual debut issues with their children. Many male youths considered sex as an ordinary activity for fun while the females confirmed that sponsor relationships of sex for gifts or favor exist. The identified mitigation strategies included abstinence, reinforcement of sex education in schools and avoidance of negative peer influence. The consequences of sexual debut were school dropout, early and forced marriage, Criminal abortion, teenage pregnancy, and complications during childbirth. The study concluded that youths are getting information which does not give life skills and living values that can prevent risky sexual behavior. The society norms are available for control of sexual debut for the youths to adopt. The health and education departments should enhance counseling on sexual debut and sex education for positive subjective self-control among the youth
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4403315335