One thousand seven hundred and fifty one Secondary school girls aged 12 to 19 years were interviewed by means of a self-administered questionnaire. 416 (23.8%), of them reported to have been sexually experienced at the time of the study. 4.1% of the sexually experienced girls had started sex below the age of 10 years, some of whom had been raped. The low and middle class private schools in the city centre had higher incidence of sexually experienced girls. The same was observed in those girls staying away from their parents. Majority of the sexually experienced girls had started coitus within one to two years of attaining menarche or having a boyfriend. Some of these girls may have been forced to indulge in sex by the men/boys or circumstances. Lack of factual knowledge, parental guidance and lust for material gains are some of the factors the girls felt may be responsible for the upsurge in adolescent sexual behaviour. The role played by these factors in adolescent sexuality is discussed, and possible remedial measures are suggested.
PIP: 1751 secondary school girls aged 12-19 years in Nairobi, Kenya were interviewed by means of a self-administered questionnaire. 416 (23.8%) of them reported being sexually experienced (SE) at the time. 4.1% of the SE girls had started being sexually active below the age of 10 years; some of them had been raped. The lower and middle class private schools in the city center had a higher incidence of SE girls. The same was seen in those girls staying away from their parents. the majority of the SE girls had started coitus within 1 to 2 years of attaining menarche or having a boyfriend. Some girls may have been forced to indulge in sex by the man/boys or circumstances. Lack of factual knowledge, parental guidance and lust for material gains are some of the factors the girls felt may be responsible for the upsurge of adolescent sex behavior. The role played be these factors in adolescent sexuality is discussed, and possible remedial measures are suggested. The youngest age at 1st coitus was 5 years. Some of those who started below the age of 10 were still active and did not seem to be sorry about it. Girls seem to feel that they are ready to have sex when their breasts develop and after menarche. They then look good to boys, who start dating them and pressuring them for sex. The girls seem to be involved with mature, self-supporting men, which would mean that they might be having sex for material gains. The girls felt patents, especially mothers, have let them down. 1 reason for this is that the mothers have affairs. Their parents are not strict. In some cases, parents share their room with grownup children and they see what goes on. The girls felt that sex was good for their health, and refreshing after a day's work. In most parts of Africa women have been brought up to serve men. They will please them whatever way possible, including sex. Family life education should be reappraised, and raising adolescent fertility trend.