Comprehensive knowledge of HIV among the adolescents is very low

Over 9 million Kenyans are adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. In Kenya adolescents face many sexual and reproductive health challenges such as early pregnancies, STIs and HIV. According to the Kenya demographic health survey 2014, 11% of girls and 20% of boys aged 15 to 19 years started to have sex before the age of 15 years. The unmet needs of contraception among young girls between the age of 15 to 19 years stands at 20%. Furthermore, 20% of girls in this same age group have begun child bearing and most of these pregnancies are usually unintended. New HIV infection among boys and girls between the age of 15 to 19 years stands at 70% for girls and 30% for boys. Moreover, 23% of adolescents aged 15-to 19 years know their HIV status and out of those aged 10 to 19 years, 105,680 are in need of ART. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV among the adolescents is very low.

Lack of Comprehensive sexuality education and access to quality, affordable, youth friendly and stigma free sexual and reproductive health information and services has contributed to the rising cases of unintended pregnancies and new case of HIV infection.