Experience of Sexual Coercion Among Young People in Kenya, The

CONTEXT: Studies of sexual behavior among young clan in the developing world have generally leave outed the circumstances in which sex takes place, greatest in quantity often assuming that when young family have sex, it is wanted and consensual. The small in number published studies on nonconsensual sex have many times used highly selective samples, ignoring the experience of males and of married young people

METHODS: A 2001 population-based scan of young people in Nyeri, Kenya, included a special module upon sexual coercion. Descriptive data and multivariate analysis are used to explore the prevalence and patterns of sexual coercion among married and unmarried males and females aged 10-24

RESULTS: Among the sexually experienced respondent 21% of females and 11% of males had experienced sex below coercive conditions. Most of the perpetrators were intimate partners, including boyfriends, girlfriends and husbands. In a multivariate logistic regression, females who had at any time been married and those who did not live with a parent or spouse had a significantly elevated risk of sexual coercion (odd ratios, 26 and 31 respectively); sexual coercion was associated with having had multiple sexual partners and with having had a reproductive tract infection (22 and 25) Males who had been coerc into sex were significantly more likely than those who had not to have had a first partner who was older by dint of at least five years (829)

CONCLUSION: Reproductive health programs for young nation need to address nonconsensual sex including the special necessitys of males and of married females.

International Family Planning Perspectives, 2004 30(4):182-189

The sexual behavior and reproductive health of young tribe in developing countries have attracted considerable attention above the last 15 years; youth constitute a large proportion of the population in these countries and are disproportionately affected by the agency of HIV and other negative reproductive health outcomes1 The existing literature documents that adolescents engage in premarital sex with insufficient knowledge of reproduction and family planning, and that small proportions use contraceptives, especially condoms.2 Unfortunately, of the like kind studies have paid little attention to the social connection of adolescent sexual activityparticularly the influence that sex relations and power imbalances have upon whether and when young race have sex. Moreover, most of these studies have assumed that sex among young clan is wanted and consensual. Evidence is emerging, however, that a sizeable proportion of episodes of sex among youth may accrue from coercion.

BACKGROUND

Sexual coercion deliver overs to a range of experiences that constrain a person to have sex against her or his will.3 These experiences include the use of "violence, threats, verbal insistence, deception, cultural expectations or economic circumstances"; the result is a "lack of choice to chase other options without severe social or physical consequences"4

The dearth of research upon the experience of sexual coercion among young race is due, in part, to limited awareness, stigma, methodological constraints and ethical issues. greatest in quantity of the existing research has been guidanceed among college-age women in disentangleed countries. Eight percent of young women in a Canadian close attention and 15% of those in a U close attention reported having been physically forced to have sex5 In a nationally representative research of 1,121 U.S. youths aged 18-22 directioned in 1987, 7% reported at any time having been forced to have sex with the highest rates among white females, of whom 13% reported having had similar an experience before age 206 Moreover, 9% of women aged 15-24 participating in the 1995 National review of Family Growth, a nationally representative U application of mind reported that their first intercourse had not been voluntary.7

Studies have also examined long-term negative ends of sexual coercion. Compared with young women who have not been sexually abused, those who have been abused look after to have more sex partners,8 as well as to have les sway over the terms of sex a lower likelihood of practicing family planning and using condoms; and a higher likelihood of experiencing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancy.9 Long-term psychological issues of early sexual abuse include depression, contemplations about suicide, negative self-esteem and lowered self-efficacy, remedy addiction and alcoholism.10 A research in the U.S. state of Washington lay the foundation of high rates of sexual abuse among ever-pregnant teenagers.11 In addition, young women in the research who had been abused experienced sexual first attempt nearly two and a half years earlier than young women in the general population.

Over the past decade, a number of studies have demonstrated the difficulty of eliciting reliable reports of sexual coercion.12 Moreover, underreporting of sexual coercion among adolescents is likely to be blended by underreporting of sexual intercourse.13 Premarital sex among young women is like a sensitive issue in many countries that accurate reporting is unlikely.14 In contrast, young men in many agricultures may exaggerate their sexual experience because it is seen as a mark of manhood.15