Knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection and AIDS among sexually active adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya and its relationship to their sexual behaviour and contraception.

A total of 675 male and female adolescents, aged 10 to 19 years, who were attending the adolescent antenatal clinic at the Kenyatta National Hospital and the Special STD and Skin Disease Clinic in Nairobi, between April 1, 1991 and July 31, 1991, were interviewed by means of partially structured questionnaire, to determine their level of awareness on sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection, AIDS and contraception with its relationship to their sexual behaviour and contraceptive practice. Adolescents formed 27.6% of people attending the STD and Skin diseases clinic, of whom 52.9% were females and 41.2% were males. Majority of them were not in any formal employment. A few were students in schools in the city. 70.4% of the total group mentioned gonorrhoea as a sexually transmitted disease, as compared to only 54.3% who mentioned AIDS as a sexually transmitted disease. They only mentioned three diseases, namely gonorrhoea, syphilis, and AIDS (HIV infection). Majority of them had started coitus very early. They were involved with many and different partners, some of whom belonged to the high risk groups for HIV infection as well as STD's. As a reflection of their low awareness on AIDS, most of these sexually active adolescents had not changed their sexual behaviour, nor were they using any protective measure against STD's or HIV infection. The implications of these findings are discussed and possible remedial measures suggested.