@article{32a14a14edc4447bbd4e1306f495c7a1,
title = "{\textquoteleft}Inexperienced{\textquoteright}? Patterns in romantic and sexual experiences among urban poor early adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya",
abstract = "The need for early prevention approaches to improve young people{\textquoteright}s sexual and reproductive health is gaining attention, yet little is known about the sexual experiences of early adolescents aged 10–14 years. Drawing on cross-sectional survey data collected from 365 early adolescents in a Nairobi slum, we used latent class analysis to identify subgroups based on self-reported awareness about sex and involvement in romantic and sexual activities. Multivariate regression models were fitted to examine the characteristics of each subgroup. Results revealed three subgroups: Involved (12%, high probability of being aware of sex and to have engaged in romantic/sexual activities); Observant (48%, high awareness but little own experience); and Na{\"i}ve (40%, little awareness or personal experience). Being in the Involved group was associated with older age, having commenced puberty/orphanhood, and living in the least poor households. Findings suggest that while most early adolescents in this setting have not initiated romantic and sexual activities, there are distinct subgroups of who would not be captured by looking only at the prevalence of sexual intercourse. Understanding the characteristics and needs of specific subgroups may help to strengthen efforts to improve young people{\textquoteright}s sexual and reproductive health in urban poor environments.",
keywords = "Early adolescence, Kenya, sexual behaviour, sexual health, young people",
author = "K{\aa}gesten, {Anna E.} and Kabiru, {Caroline W.} and Beatrice Maina and Danielle German and Blum, {Robert Wm}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported in part through funds from the Global Early Adolescent Study (GEAS) – specifically the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the US Agency of International Development and World Health Organization – and in part by the William H. Gates Sr. endowed professorship at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Analysis and writing time for African Population and Health Center (APHRC) coauthors was partially supported by UK Aid from the UK government for the Strengthening Evidence for Programming on Unintended Pregnancy (STEP UP) Research Programme Consortium (Grant Number SR1109D-6) and general support grants to the APHRC from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Grant Number 2011-001578) and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (Grant Numbers 2015-2530). The study was nested in the NUHDSS, which has received support from a number of donors including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Comic Relief (UK), the Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (USA). The implementation and management of the NUHDSS and the GEAS would have not been possible without the continuous contribution and support of the data-management team, field teams, community leaders and residents in the Korogocho and Viwandani slums. Funding Information: This work was supported in part through funds from the Global Early Adolescent Study (GEAS)?specifically the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the US Agency of International Development and World Health Organization?and in part by the William H. Gates Sr. endowed professorship at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Analysis and writing time for African Population and Health Center (APHRC) coauthors was partially supported by UK Aid from the UK government for the Strengthening Evidence for Programming on Unintended Pregnancy (STEP UP) Research Programme Consortium (Grant Number SR1109D-6) and general support grants to the APHRC from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Grant Number 2011-001578) and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (Grant Numbers 2015- 2530). The study was nested in the NUHDSS, which has received support from a number of donors including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Comic Relief (UK), the Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (USA). The implementation and management of the NUHDSS and the GEAS would have not been possible without the continuous contribution and support of the data-management team, field teams, community leaders and residents in the Korogocho and Viwandani slums. The authors would like to thank Kristin Mmari at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Jacky Jennings at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for providing input on the study, which was completed in partial fulfilment of the first author?s doctoral requirements at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, {\textcopyright} 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.",
year = "2018",
month = dec,
day = "2",
doi = "10.1080/13691058.2018.1432765",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "20",
pages = "1299--1316",
journal = "Culture, Health and Sexuality",
issn = "1369-1058",
publisher = "Routledge",
number = "12",
}