East Afr J Appl Health Monitor Eval

BACKGROUNDUnderstanding sexual risk among youth can inform the design of effective HIV prevention interventions.METHODSThe 2012 Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey was a nationally representative population-based survey. We administered a questionnaire and collected blood samples for HIV testing. We examined factors associated with unsafe sex among unmarried youth aged 15\u201319 and 20\u201324 years.RESULTSOf 2,090 unmarried youth aged 15\u201319 years, 33.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 30.6\u201336.1) had ever had sex. Among those, 66.0% (95% CI 61.3\u201370.7) had sex in the past year (sexually active), and of these, 38.7% (95% 33.4 \u201344.0) reported unsafe sex. No differences were observed in unsafe sex by sex. Factors associated with increased adjusted odds of unsafe sex among youth aged 15\u201319 years were residence in Central province; having primary or lower education; sexual debut before age 15 years; ever receiving money, gifts or favours for sex (transactional sex); multiple sexual partners in the past year; and low self-perceived risk of HIV. Of the 1,079 unmarried youth aged 20\u201324 years, 77.2% (95% CI 74.2\u201380.2) had ever had sex. Of these, 73.1% (95% CI69.8\u201376.3) were sexually active, and 24.1% (95% CI 18.1\u201330.1) of women and 31.9% (95% CI 26.4\u201337.5) of men reported unsafe sex in the past year. Factors associated with increased adjusted odds of unsafe sex among youth aged 20\u201324 years were primary or lower education, transactional sex and multiple partners in the past year.CONCLUSIONUnsafe sex is common among Kenyan youth, especially those aged 15\u201319 years. HIV prevention efforts need to target youth, support educational progression and economic empowerment.20182019-05-28T00:00:00ZCC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United StatesU19 GH000069/GH/CGH CDC HHS/United States31149660PMC6537612668