Responsiveness and Uptake of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Education and Information Among Young People 10-24 Years Old: A Case Of ‘Get Up Speak Out’ (GUSO) Program Implementation Period in Western Kenya Region

Abstract

Young people and girls suffer from some of the worst SRHR outcomes in Kenya such as sexual abuse and violence; STIs including HIV; unintended pregnancies; unsafe abortions; early and forced marriages; obstetric fistula; and maternal mortality. Some of the main causes to these poor outcomes include lack of correct and comprehensive information on key SRHR issues. The GUSO program was implemented in western region of Kenya from 2018-2020 with an aim of aim of increasing uptake of SRHR education and information among young people 10-24 years old through 3 strategies: Capacity development for information providers (SRHR curriculum based trainings); Direct access to SRHR information e.g. Electronic & Media platforms (direct messaging and WhatsApp group discussions); and Community approach (table talks and clarification sessions).The findings show that the number of educators trained increased through the three years. There was incremental in number of young people reached with SRHR information and similarly incremental in program realization over targets, meaning increase in willingness among the young people to utilizing the deployed strategies of direct and indirect SRHR. This also means that the deployed strategy of training of trainers to enhance capacity for young people to access information was effective in creating demand for SRHR information. The findings imply that it is possible to realize desired targets on SRHR information access by young people through capacity building and adopting the correct strategies. This study has identified such approaches to include table talks, clarification sessions, and direct messaging. Therefore, the health sector can indeed, by adopting these strategies improve SRHR service utilization among young people that may have a reducing effect to the now high levels of teenage pregnancies and other related consequences. The study has tested and determined that it is feasible to improve access to SRHR education and information among young people through training of educators and adopting proper strategies through which young people access SRH information. Furthermore, the findings have proved that these approaches lead to improved knowledge level, attitude for and SRHR service seeking behaviour for young people.