Background
Despite the problems associated with teenage pregnancies, many young people in Kenya find it difficult to access contraceptives. Fear of stigmatization, discrimination, high costs, lack of knowledge about available contraceptive methods and absence of youth friendly reproductive health centres are some of the barriers preventing adolescents from using contraceptives, putting them at risk of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

About the project
This project was created to increase the knowledge and use of modern contraceptives among young people living with HIV at Kenyatta National Hospital’s comprehensive care clinic. The clinic staff were trained on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the importance of contraceptive use and methods of counselling and communicating with young people. In addition to this, the adolescents visiting the clinic participated in information sessions on contraceptive methods, reproductive health challenges and available health services.

Results
By the end of the project, the majority of the clinic staff were trained on how to counsel youth and discuss methods of family planning. A major success after the project was that the youth centre at the hospital now offers contraceptive services to young people for free. This, combined with the fact that the adolescents in the clinic have been empowered with knowledge about their SRHR, means that they can now easily access contraceptive services and support.

The topic of young people’s SRHR has been integrated into the support group sessions that the clinicians lead every week, enabling young people to continue being empowered with knowledge even after the end of the project.

Year: 2015