Sexuality communication between teachers and adolescents in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

This study investigated sexuality communication between teachers and adolescents in Nakuru County, Kenya. Thirty teachers were sampled from ten secondary schools in Nakuru East and Njoro sub-counties representing urban and rural teacher populations. These schools included six same-sex secondary (three only boys and three only girls) schools and four mixed-sex secondary schools. The schools' categories included two national schools, three extra-county schools, three county schools, and two sub-county schools. Three teachers were sampled from each school, including the guidance and counselling teacher who was purposively sampled. Two other teachers were randomly sampled, leading to thirty teachers. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The schools were categorized from letter A to J, and the teachers were coded as Teacher 1, Teacher 2, and Teacher 3. The results showed that teachers did offer some sexuality information, especially on HIV /AIDS and STIs, values and interpersonal skills, contraceptives, and unintended pregnancies, but were uncomfortable handling sexual variations and self-gratification topics. Time constraints due to high workload in teaching subjects, inadequate training, and societal taboos restricted sexuality communication. The findings show that efforts should be fostered to increase teacher training, especially in-service training in sexuality communication, to enhance teachers' capacity in delivering sexual health information to adolescents in secondary schools.