Influence of Students’ Awareness on Implementation of National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy among Secondary School Students in Gucha South Sub-County, Kisii County, Kenya

The government of Kenya through the Ministry of Health enacted the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy (NASRH) in 2015 which outlines the need for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) among adolescents. The policy is meant to inform the adolescents through the Ministry of Education on proper practices on reproductive health. Despite the implementation of this policy, there are increased incidences of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, substance and drug abuse, early marriages, harmful traditional practices, sexual and gender-based violence among secondary school students in Kenya. This study sought to determine students’ level of awareness of the implementation of NASRH policy in secondary schools in Gucha South Sub-County. The study adopted concurrent mixed method research design (QUANT+QUAL). Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics (percentages & frequencies), while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The results indicate that majority of the students (72.7%) agreed that their schools strive to reduce incidences of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence incidences among students. (66.4%) of the students agreed that the school had put in place measures to curb drug and substance abuse, while (65.1%) agreed with the item that the school referred them to health facilities in case they had reproductive health issues. On the other hand, (45.8%) of the students did not agree on the statement that the school trains students on sexual and reproductive health. A minority (40.8%) agreed with the statement while a small number (13.4%) sparing agreed. This is an indication that sexual and reproductive health trainings are not adequately covered in schools and hence, a majority of students are not aware of the schools’ role in enhancing sexual and reproductive health education. Therefore, the ministry of health in collaboration with the ministry of education should establish adolescent friendly centres to provide quality services on sexuality education and provide sexuality materials i.e. teaching manuals, curriculum frameworks and comprehensive sexuality education guidelines.

MoH, MoE, NASRH policy, Awareness, Selected Factors

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