Factors Influencing High Risk Sexual Behaviours Amonng Secondary School Students in Nakuru East Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

Approximately 2.6 million adolescents worldwide are infected with HIV and AIDS every year with sexual transmission as the most common way of contact. According to the National Aids Control Council youths aged 15-24 years have recorded a high number of sexually transmitted infections. The evidence of increased number of youths infected with HIV and AIDS is proof that they are engaging in high risk sexual behaviour. Despite running abstinence and sex education campaigns, research shows that most adolescents in Africa are still engaging in high risk sexual behaviour. This study filled the gap by finding out why this new infections are still a challenge despite the awareness campaigns and sex education provided. Nakuru East Sub County was chosen since it was strategically located among all locations of interest to the study such as slums, suburbs, and middle class locations. To enable this, the study was based on three objectives which include; to establish the relationship between peer pressure and high risk sexual behaviours, to determine the contribution of parental characteristics to high risk sexual behaviour among adolescents, and to assess the role of individual factors in high risk sexual behaviour among adolescents. The study focused on 5 public day secondary schools in Nakuru County, specifically Nakuru East Sub-county which has five sub locations. A total of 28 students were sampled per school from Form 1 to 4, which summed up to 138 students in Nakuru East Sub County. Primary data was gathered from 138 students through questionnaires. Interviews were conducted among the school principals. Quantitative data was analysed through statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) using cross tabulation to determine the frequency and percentage of the responses. Pearson chi-square was used to determine significance level which was p<0.05. Qualitative data was utilised to support the quantitative data. Information on high risk sexual behaviours has significant policy implications in adding to the knowledge of designing and implementing family planning and HIV and AIDS prevention programs in developing countries. The study also contributed to the academic research done on high risk sexual behaviours among adolescents. The study results indicate that peer pressure influences the students‟ decisions on sex and relationships. It also highlights parents‟ absentism in their children‟s life and the individual factors that influence high risk sexual behaviour such as alcohol and drugs. Equally, peer pressure, parental factor and personal attributes have an influence on high risk sexual behaviour among secondary school students. In conclusion, inclusion of sex education in the school curriculum is of essence as it will promote an all round knowledge among Secondary school students in the Kenya context.