The Role of Sex Education Knowledge in shaping the sexual behaviour of adolescents in primary schools in Thika-District Kenya

This study examines the effectiveness of sex education knowledge among primary · school adolescents in relation to sex behaviour. The effectiveness will be examined in terms of content, practice, coherence and consistency policy guidelines, regarding the teaching of sex education in schools. The preparedness of the sex education program implementers will also be examined. . ·A literature review revealed that adolescents' premarital intercourse is common and appears to be on the rise in most regions of the world. The age of puberty has gone down and the adolescents, as a result, are becoming sexually mature for longer period before they attain full physical maturity. Adolescents' early sexual activity is associated with a range of outcomes detrimental to their health, including complications of pregnancy, unsafe abortion and sexually transmitted infections and especially HIV/AIDS. · Adolescents' sexuality has therefore raised health concerns not only to the individual adolescent but also to the parent, educators and the community at large, locally and worldwide. In Kenya young people comprise of about 50 percent of the entire population. And although young people make such a significant proportion of Kenya population their sexual health needs are often neglectedj' especially in designing of programmes that pertain to their well being. The study argues that education; both in school and beyond, has a key role to play in shaping the sexual behaviour. of young people. It can provide adolescents with the knowledge and information to protect themselves and others from the consequences of early sexual behaviour. Education can also provide adolescents with communication skills to negotiate for safer sex and foster positive attitudes and values that promote ·desired sexual behaviour. In the hands of good practitioners their endeavour can provide hope for the future. Therefore, this study seeks to explore sex education provision in schools and the entire community, including the home. The study seeks to establish the timing of this information provision, whether the information given to the adolescents is adequate in helping the young people to make respoosible decisions in the awakening of their sexual desires. It is hoped that this informatiOn will give insights that will contribute to the formulation of appropriate policies and programmes that seek to address adolescents' sexual issues. To achieve this the views of adolescents in the upper primary schools between the ages of 12-14 in Thika District in Kenya are sought. This is done through use of questionnaires and focus group discussions. Data analysis was done using SPSS computer package. Adult mentors also provide alternative perspectives. The findings of this study indicate that adolescents are sexually active at an early age and ignorant of contraceptives measures. The adolescents' views are absent in designing programmes that are of interest to them.The study recommends adolescents' participation and empowerment to ensure that intervention programmes for sex education are adolescent centred and engages the adolescents fully in designing, and implementation. The implementation plan is critical to ensure sustainability. Therefore, the Ministry of Education should have a body that plays the overall role of facilitation, co-ordination, monitoring, advocacy and promotion of the adolescent issues from all other ministries and NGOS to avoid duplication of effort' and to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of sex education delivery.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo