Behavioural Attitude of Young Men (10-24yrs) on Safe Sex and Reproductive Health: A Survey of Huruma Estate, Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract

There is an urgent need to promote the awareness of safe sex and reproductive health, especially among young men in communities most vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases. The survey was therefore to determine the involvement of young men aged 10- 24yrs, in sexual and reproductive health matters. Questionnaires were issued to 290 young men in schools and Huruma Estate in Eldoret, between January and March, 2010. Chi-square was used for data analysis. Results showed that 59% of young men across the 15-24-year age bracket, including single, cohabiting and/or married, rarely or never used condoms whenever they engaged in sex with a steady or unsteady partner. This was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). 22% of married young men in the sample population had sex without consistent use of condoms, while 41% of those who had sex in the past six months prior to the study period had engaged in sex with multiple partners. Whereas 46% of men aged 15-20 had already engaged in sexual intercourse, 95% of those aged 20-24 had done so. Only 18% and 42% of those aged 15-19 and 20-24, who had engaged in sex, had been tested for HIV, because they considered themselves protected from sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Hence significant percentages (P< 0.05) of sexually mature young men engaged in unprotected sex, despite the fact that they knew about the danger of HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies. Significant percentages (P< 0.05) of boys aged 13 and below were ignorant of sex protected from sexually transmitted diseases and/or pregnancy. Persistent advocacy for protected sex against diseases .