A multi-sectoral approach to providing reproductive health information and services to young people in Western Kenya: The Kenya adolescent reproductive health project

Informing adolescents about appropriate and acceptable behaviors, and ways to protect themselves against unwanted and unprotected sex, has proved problematic in Kenya. Education programs for in- and out-of-school adolescents are lacking, there is controversy about providing services to sexually active adolescents, and a pervasive concern that sexuality education and contraceptive services leads to promiscuity. Unbiased and accurate information and services are needed if adolescents are to delay becoming sexually active, to resist pressures to engage in nonconsensual sex, and to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies and infections if they do have sex. Moreover, strategies for providing such information and services need to be acceptable to the community and sustainable over time. The Population Council’s Frontiers in Reproductive Health Program and the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health Kenya office collaborated with three government of Kenya ministries to design and implement a multisectoral project to improve knowledge about reproductive health and encourage a responsible and healthy attitude toward sexuality among adolescents, delay the onset of sexual activity among younger adolescents, and decrease risky behaviors among sexually active adolescents. Three interventions were implemented and evaluated in two districts in Western Province and this report presents findings that directly evaluate and cost the interventions.