Abstract:

Objectives: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a broad objective to determine, by self-assessment, the knowledge, attitude and practice on risky sexual behaviors and associated factors among adolescents.

Methods: A self-administered, structured, English to Swahili translated questionnaire was developed and pretested to collect the research data from the respondents. Two hundred and fifty male and female adolescents in total were interviewed.

Results: The results show that the boys and the girls have the same level of knowledge on sexually transmitted infections (p-value=0.46). The difference on the level of knowledge on HIV and AIDS between boys and girls was not statistically significant (p-value =0.9) while the difference on the knowledge on pregnancy between the boys and girls was statically significant (p-value =0.04) boy with a better knowledge for pregnancy matters and the difference on the level of knowledge on condoms between the boys and girls was statistically significant (p-value=0.004) boys with a better knowledge for condoms matters. The difference in attitude between male and female adolescents on STIs was not statistically significant (p-value=0.66) and the same for HIV and AIDS (p-value=0.56), pregnancy (p-value=0.72), condoms (p-value=0.56) and indulging towards sex (p-value=0.67). The visiting practice to health facilities is insufficient in both male and female adolescents at 40.00% as well as the number of those who have ever tested for HIV at 48.80%. Majority of adolescent have experienced vaginal sex at 42.57% with a few of them emerging to have experienced oral and anal sex at 1.61% and 0.80% respectively. For those who have sex, there is inadequate correct and consistent use of condoms. There is an emerging use of alcohol up to 15.00%. Homosexuality is at the emerging situation amongst both male and female adolescents in which the difference between male and females approaching a similar sex was statistically significant (p-value=0.02). The source of information about reproductive health, HIV and AIDS quoted with higher frequency were the radio (89.18%), the television (89.84%), the teacher and the doctor (86.18%), the IEC materials (85.77%) and friend (75.10%). The main preferred sources of information on reproductive health, HIV and AIDS were the doctor (92.71%), the VCT Centre (87.70%), the teacher (85.71%), the radio (85.37%), the television (84.49%), the IEC materials (84.49%) and the nurse (82.30%), the mother (79.35%), and the friend (77.73%).

Conclusions: The findings identify the knowledge, attitude and practice among late adolescents on risky sexual behaviors and therefore providing the leeway for strategic designing of efficient and effective interventions to serve the youth. The mass media in terms of radio, television and IEC materials as well as the internet, books and magazines, are still most effective means of educating the society, including adolescents in dealing with risky sexual behaviors. Apart from the mass media, medical personnel including the doctors and nurses as well as other non-medical personnel such as teachers, peer friends and parents were found to be preferred sources of information to adolescents. Since the results from this study have revealed that adolescents’ knowledge on matters related to risky sexual behaviors is high but the practice is inadequate, then there must be an innovative approach to deal with what could be the stumbling blocks on the practice since this is the critical part as far as risky sexual behaviors are concerned. It is henceforth important to take into account factors related to socio-cultural issues, traditional practices, the effects of globalization and adaptation of modernity, economic based factors, gender related issues, to mention few.