SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG DAY SCHOOL GOING GIRLS IN HOMA BAY COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Their sexual and reproductive health decision making is greatly influenced by their knowledge. This study, therefore, aimed to determine sexual and reproductive health knowledge among secondary school-going girls in Homabay County, Kenya.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analytical study design that used quantitative approaches to determine factors associated with sexual and reproductive health knowledge among day school-going girls. A sample size of 491 participants were proportionately distributed in the selected 28 school. Data was entered, cleaned, and managed in the SPSS software version 17. Descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the level of sexual and reproductive health knowledge while logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with sexual and reproductive health knowledge.

RESULTS: The study reported 39.4%, 40.4% and 82.9% of participants to be having good overall knowledge of risky sexual behavior, pregnancy related issues and HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention. From the participants 207(42.1%),203(41.3%),230 (46.7%),188(38.2%),173(35.2%) correctly identified risky sexual behavior as sexual intercourse without a condom, starting sexual activities before age 14, multiple sexual partners, more frequent sexual activities and having sex under influence of alcohols respectively. On pregnancy, 303(61.6%),416(84.6 %),315(64.0%) of the participants correctly answered that a girl has the greatest chance of becoming pregnant in the middle of her menstrual cycle, Abstinence is the safest method to prevent pregnancy and Adolescent pregnancy is a risk for maternal complication respectively.  Participant with catholic religion background were less likely to have good sexual and reproductive health knowledge (OR 0.18, CI 0.318-0.84, P 0.0080).

 CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSLATION: This study concludes that most girls have good knowledge on HIV but poor knowledge of risky sexual behavior and pregnancy-related issues and also identify role of religion in improving sexual and reproductive health knowledge. The study, therefore, recommends upscaling of school-based sexual and reproductive health education.