SEARCHOTHERpublic health, epidemiology

other·public health, epidemiology, pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine·PMC10564131

Sexual risk-taking behavior amongst emerging adults in a tertiary institution of learning in Coastal Kenya: A qualitative study of stakeholders’ perspectives using causal loop mapping

PLOS ONE · 12 authors, 9 centres

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 100%

This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.

AGENT 01 · STRUCTURED SUMMARY

TRACE TO SOURCE

“

TL;DR

This qualitative study explored perceptions of sexual risk-taking behaviors and their interconnected drivers among university students in Coastal Kenya. The central finding is that unprotected sex was perceived as the most common behavior, driven by individual-level factors like alcohol/drug use, which were interconnected with other risks like gender-based violence.

Full summary

759 CHARS

Data were analyzed thematically and mapped using a causal loop diagram. Findings indicated that unprotected sex, transactional sex, cross-generational sex, multiple partnerships, gender-based violence, and sex under the influence of alcohol/drugs were perceived as common. Drivers identified included biological/psychological vulnerability, negative peer influence, alcohol/drug use, and financial difficulties, with most factors operating at the individual level and being interconnected. A key limitation is that the study involved participants from only one university, limiting generalizability. The implications suggest that enhancing sexuality education and strengthening support systems, such as counseling for alcohol/drug use, could help reduce SRTB.

STUDY TYPE

other

SPECIALTY

public health

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10564131

Sexual risk-taking behavior amongst emerging adults in a tertiary institution of learning in Coastal Kenya: A qualitative study of stakeholders’ perspectives using causal loop mapping

PLOS ONE

READ THE FULL PAPER

ABSTRACT

Background It is known from previous studies that university students in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) engage in sexual risk-taking behaviour (SRTB). However, there is paucity of data on factors contributing to SRTB among university students (emerging adults) at the Kenyan Coast thus hindering intervention planning. This study seeks to provide an in-depth qualitative understanding of the factors contributing to SRTB and their interconnectedness among university students at the Kenyan Coast combining qualitative research with a systems thinking approach. Methods Using the ecological model, and employing in-depth interviews, we explored the perceptions of twenty-six key informants (twenty-one emerging adults and five other stakeholders) on what constitutes and influences SRTB among emerging adults at a tertiary institution of learning in Coastal Kenya. Data were analysed using a thematic framework approach. A causal loop diagram (CLD) was developed to map the interconnectedness of the correlates of SRTB. Results Our findings show that unprotected sex, transactional sex, cross-generational sex, multiple sex partnerships, gender-based violence, sex under influence of alcohol/drugs, early sex debut, and sharing sex toys were common SRTBs. Based on the ecological model and CLD, most of the reported risk factors were interconnected and operated at the individual level. Conclusion Our study shows that emerging adults are frequently engaging in unprotected sex. Enhancing sexuality education programs for students in Kenyan universities and strengthening support systems including counselling for those using alcohol/drugs may help reduce SRTB among emerging adults in Kenyan universities.

CITATION EXPORT

Stevenson K. Chea, Vincent A. Kagonya, Eunice A. Oyugi et al.. Sexual risk-taking behavior amongst emerging adults in a tertiary institution of learning in Coastal Kenya: A qualitative study of stakeholders’ perspectives using causal loop mapping. PLOS ONE. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284550

AUTHORS

12 · 9 CENTRES

Stevenson K. Chea, Vincent A. Kagonya, Eunice A. Oyugi, Carophine Nasambu, Isaac Menza, Fauz Ibrahim, Osman Abdullahi, Alice Anika, Amin S. Hassan, Souheila Abbeddou, Kristien Michielsen, Amina Abubakar

1 Department of Nursing Sciences, School of Health and Human Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
2 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
3 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Public Health Nutrition Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
4 Centre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
5 County Department of Health, Kilifi, Kenya
6 Department of Public Health, School of Health and Human Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
7 Department of Educational Psychology, School of Education, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
8 Institute for Human Development, The Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
University of Nairobi, KENYA

EDITOR / REVIEWER

Lucy W. Kivuti-Bitok