According to the 2009 Population and Housing Census, adolescents and youth constitute about a third of Kenya’s population. This large proportion of young people has major demographic, social and economic implications. In particular, adolescent fertility has remained high despite declines experienced among other age groups. The government addresses adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues in health and development through activities initiated by the Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) of the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MOPHS) and its partners. The Adolescent Reproductive Health and Development Policy (2003) has identified the following as priority strategic concerns in promoting the health of young people in Kenya:

• Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRH&R)
• Drug and substance abuse
• Socio-economic factors
• Adolescents and youth with disabilities

These priorities are being addressed through the implementation of the Adolescent Reproductive Health and Development Plan of Action (2005).

The Division of Reproductive Health

Adolescents and youth are generally defined as persons between the ages of 10 and 19 years and 10 and 24 years, respectively. Youth between the ages of 20 and 24 are often referred to as young adults. In Kenya, the Children’s Act, 2001, defines a child as a person under the age of 18 years, and therefore adolescents are protected by the Children’s Act.
Kenya’s Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights programme is designed and built to:

• Improve adolescents’ knowledge about reproductive health
• Encourage a responsible and healthy attitude toward sexuality
• Delay onset of sexual activity among younger adolescents
• Decrease risky behaviours among adolescents who are already sexually active
• Provide more youth-friendly services by trained service providers and peer educators

As the technical arm of MOPHS, DRH formulates policy, develops implementation guidelines and coordinates intersectoral collaboration to ensure the delivery of high-quality adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) information and services by relevant government departments, nongovernmental organisations and the private sector. In implementing the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRH&R) Programme, DRH works closely with the Ministries of Medical Services, Education and Youth Affairs. DRH implements the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Programme through a countrywide network of district coordinators. Each district adapts the national plan of action to incorporate local concerns. Current national priority interventions for implementation include the following:

• Updating policy and implementation guidelines to reflect new trends and emerging concerns on adolescent and reproductive health services
• Training service providers on youth-friendly services
• Identifying and strengthening the network centres providing youth-friendly services, including those run by the Ministry of Youth Affairs
• Increasing awareness of and access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services for all youth and adolescents, including hard-to-reach and marginalized groups such as the physically challenged
• Strengthening partnerships with the private sector to provide quality information and services

Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health - Taking Stock in Kenya

In order to enhance the ability of the Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) to coordinate these priority interventions in the country, the DRH, with technical assistance from FHI 360 and financial support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID), undertook a review of adolescent and youth reproductive health programs in the country. The goal of the review was to identify the key organizations involved in adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH), compile a general inventory of their activities, and begin to assess the degree to which they are using evidenced-based interventions that are ready for national scale-up. Click here for document.

Key Policies, Strategies, Guidelines and Tools

To guide the provision of ASRH&R services in Kenya, DRH has developed several policies, service provider guidelines and tools. Read more.