Young adolescents eager to make their voices heard
A recent survey conducted by DSW in Kilifi County (Kenya) shows that only 5% of young adolescents confide in their parents/guardians about Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). The adolescents are more free discussing such issues with their teachers, though this is still quite low at 28%. in April 2014, as part of the implementation of the Young Adolescents Project (YAP). The survey was conducted to among young adolescents (10-14 years), teachers, health workers, parents/guardians and community leaders in Rabai and Kilifi South sub-counties along the Kenyan Coast.
It also emerged that four out of every 10 girls in the region lack access to sanitary towels and are thus at risk of missing school during their menses. The survey also showed that a mere 18% of parents/guardians talk to their children about SRHR regularly. Despite teachers being more proactive in talking about these issues with their pupils, only 26% of them use youth friendly approaches to communicate SRHR information. According to the survey, although parents acknowledge young adolescents need SRHR information, some feel they are too young and that such information could influence them negatively and/or confuse them.
The survey findings, which were being disseminated today during a stakeholder forum in Mombasa, were hailed as a good platform for basing SRHR interventions for young people. Parents, Ministry of Health officials, Ministry of Education officials as well as civil society organisations attended the event. The survey was conducted as part of the implementation of the Young Adolescents Project that aims at improving Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) among young adolescents in nine primary schools in Kilifi County, Coast region. The project is being implemented by DSW in close collaboration with Bayer HealthCare and the Ministry of Education.
