Boys shun leisure kits at health centres, says report

By GATONYE GATHURA

Kenya: Boys are keeping off public youth-friendly health facilities because they perceive them as too feminine and designed for women and children, according to the Ministry of Health.

A report published on Friday by the Division of Reproductive Health in the Ministry of Health says the centres, which provide entertainment such as pool games, are attracting the wrong crowds of older males which could be scaring away intended clients, especially younger girls.

In 2005, the Ministry of Health published the National Guidelines for Provision of Adolescent Youth-Friendly Services requiring that public hospitals open up specific units or provide deliberate facilities that would attract and be welcoming to people aged between 10 and 24.

Such units, according to the guidelines, would be manned by younger workers, provide flexible hours for the youth especially those in school and colleges.

“Boys say they do not feel comfortable sitting in the waiting area, between women and children. The integrated services are perfect for women and girls; but not for us. We feel neglected by the system,” says the report.

Led by Pamela M Godia of the Ministry of Health, the survey partially funded by the World Health Organisation had other researchers from the University of Nairobi and the UK’s Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Dr Godia and her team were taking stock of how the youth-friendly service introduced by the government some years back was being received.

They interviewed youth aged 10-24 attending such facilities in public and faith-managed centers in Nairobi, Laikipia, Meru Central and Kirinyaga.

The girls were quite happy with the services although they would want a dose of girl-talks, girls-days and some beauty things added to spice up the experience.

On why there is too much unsafe sex among the youth as reflected in high HIV infections and teenage pregnancies, both boys and girls directed an accusing finger at parents, the media and mobile phones.

Both girls and boys said lack of proper parental guidance was the genesis of some of the reproductive health problems.

“Parents do not to listen, talk to and advise us appropriately on such issues, either because they do not have the time or are uncomfortable doing so.”

More space

Although girls in Nairobi say parents in the city are a bit too strict and harsh and should give them some more space to socialise.

Media influence on young people’s sexual practices, especially indecent material, was mentioned by a majority of boys from all the study sites.

“Such material was said to be easily available on the internet, particularly through the mobile phones,” says the team.

Poverty and unemployment were found to be the main drivers pushing, especially young girls, towards risky behaviour.

Boys and girls in the four counties agreed that “sex-for-maize-flour” was rampant in their areas and was as a result of poverty and unemployment.

Although in the study areas none of the sexes seemed to call for a slowdown, girls want boys who make them pregnant to share in the consequences.

Most boys were categorical that it is the responsibility of the girl to ensure that she did not get pregnant.

Boys also said that they were pressurised and forced by their families to deny such responsibilities.

Also majority of the boys from all study sites said that some girls got pregnant deliberately to secure a commitment from the boyfriend, especially if he is financially stable.

Asked how they can be helped, both sexes said they want more and accurate information from parents.

The centres were also found to have welcome but somehow unintended benefits with youth who had no other place to access computers now being able to do so and get to use the internet and write their CVs.