Policy scripts and students' realities regarding sexuality education in secondary schools in Kenya

Abstract

This paper explores the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policy context and the realities facing in-school young people in Kenya. It is based on a review of the health and education sector policy documents as well as data from self-administered questionnaires with 3624 male and female students from eight secondary schools in Nairobi. Findings show that although the policies emphasise the right to access accurate SRH information, there are restrictions on the content of messages that can be provided to in-school young people. At the same time, students continue to be exposed to the risks of undesired SRH outcomes and quest for comprehensive SRH information. The findings suggest that as policy-makers, parents, teachers, civil and faith-based organisations debate about the value and content of sexuality education in schools, it is important to consider the views and experiences of students who are the intended beneficiaries of such education.

Keywords::

• sexual and reproductive health
• sexuality education
• policy
• students' views and experiences
• Kenya

Acknowledgements

The pilot intervention study that provided part of the data for this paper was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Kenya Mission through cooperative agreement 623-A-00-09-00001-00 with the Population Council. It was implemented by APHIA II Operations Research Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Well Told Story, and the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP). Data analysis was partly supported by UKaid from the Department for International Development (DFID) through the STEP UP (Strengthening Evidence for Programming on Unintended Pregnancy) Research Programme Consortium. The Population Council Institutional Review Board, the Ethics Review Committee of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) granted ethical and research clearance for the study. An earlier version of the paper benefited from valuable comments from anonymous reviewers. The opinions expressed in the paper are, however, solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding or implementing agencies.

Notes

^1. According to the Kenya Constitution, abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law (Republic of Kenya 2010).

^2. NACC is the agency that is responsible for providing policy and strategic frameworks for mobilising and coordinating resources for the prevention of HIV transmission and provision of care and support to the infected and affected people in Kenya.