Gender Responsive Life-Skills-Based Sexuality Education and Adolescents’ Protective Sexuality Attitudes and Behaviour.

Abstract

Adolescent are at high sexual risk owing to their biopsychosocial development and in view of high rate of new HIV infections in persons aged 15-24-years in Kenya. According to the Kenya National AIDS Control Council (2015) the increase is from 21% in the year 22013 to 51% in 2015. Education on adolescent sexuality behavior and reproductive health, is often expected from education sector yet comprehensive sexuality Life skills-based education is not ascertained.

Aims: So, a research study was conducted to determine the relationship gender responsive life-skills based sexuality education and adolescents ‘protective sexuality attitudes and behaviors in church-based schools in Kenya. The independent variable of study comprised combined variables of gender responsive life-skills based sexuality education, which included comprehensive sexuality education, gender responsive sexuality education, gender equality and equity, & gender power.

Samples: A questionnaire was administered among 140 adolescent girls and boys aged 15-20 in Nairobi and Athi River church schools. The Catholic Church and Presbyterian churches schools were selected by convenience sampling.

Methods: Quantitative research design was employed, adolescents responded to Likert scale items and open-ended questions to provide score on gender responsive life-skills based education and their protective attitude and behavior. Pearson correlations coefficient was used to determines links between independent and dependent variables. Results and Conclusion: Comprehensive sexuality education takes place in church schools and predicts 10.7% of adolescents’ protective sexuality attitudes and behavior. Gender responsive life skills-based sexuality education should be taught in all schools in Kenya as they enhance protective attitudes and behaviors