Results
Among the interviewed adolescents, the average age of boys was 17.5 and girls were 17.0. Over 85% of these adolescents had lived in Kisumu for 10 years or more, while the remaining 15% were either born there or had recently moved. Among these adolescents, 45% were unemployed, 51% were working in small micro-enterprise businesses or as taxi or bicycle operators, and the remaining 4% were out-of-school youth. In terms of school attendance, 55% of the interviewed adolescents were attending primary or secondary school, while the remaining 45% were not enrolled in any formal education.
According to the interviews, it was reported that 79% of boys and 49% of girls had engaged in sexual activity at some point. Out of those interviewed, 37% of boys (22 out of 59) and 59% of girls (22 out of 37) had their first sexual experience at the age of 15 or younger. A 15-year-old girl from a low-SES area expressed, “In our area, many young girls become pregnant because they start having sexual relationships very early, like at my age. It’s unfortunate that some girls get pregnant and then get abandoned, which is not a good situation.”
During the observations, it was noted that older men were often seen as preferred choices for young girls, as they were perceived to be more mature and able to offer advice and solve problems. One girl stated, “I would not date a guy who is the same age as me because… If a guy is three or six years older than me, I would go for him.” All the girls had partners who were at least 17 to 20 years older, with the oldest partner being 25 years older. The girls who mentioned the age of their first partner reported a significant age difference, with the average age being 28 for the girls and 16 for their partners. Most girls reported a large age difference with both their first and current partners.
In Kisumu, youth engage in risky sexual behavior during disco funerals, which are characterized by bidding games, dancing, singing, and loud music. These disco funerals are held by the relatives of a recently deceased person in order to raise funds for the funeral.
During the observation of several engaged adolescents in the hall of darkness, it will be shown that youth in this way are aware of “porno”: “on-por” writes and announces the featured film, disguising it several times. The owner of a video hall claims that most of the attendees were young men, but there were also some girls present. The scenes in the movies ranged from non-violent to violent pornography, including vaginal, oral, anal, and group sex. Even a 12-year-old could enter the halls with a small fee ranging from €0.05 to €0.15. The fieldworkers conducted random observations in 12 out of 8 video halls, which are popular leisure spots equipped with VCR and television rooms. One of the interviewed youth, a 17-year-old boy, suggested that we should try to convince them to steal some “pono” tapes. Additionally, a 14-year-old domestic worker reported watching porn at a friend’s home or at home. Some of the interviewed youth also reported attending video porn shows, either influenced by their personal sexuality or out of curiosity (report 49).
Several instances of non-consensual sex were reported. During the initial sexual encounter, 15 out of the 37 sexually active girls interviewed disclosed various levels of coercion or manipulation. Some girls were lured to secluded places, like a separate living space belonging to a boy, where they were pressured into engaging in sexual activity. One girl shared her experience, stating, “This boy invited me to visit him, and when I arrived, he turned on the radio… Later, he forcibly restrained me.” Furthermore, a 17-year-old boy recounted a situation where he said, “Imagine you’ve been dancing with a girl, and you’ve expressed your desire for sex, but she refuses. In this situation, you just forcefully seize and pull her until you both go… To an isolated area where people rarely go.” Another girl revealed that at the age of 13, a boy forcefully grabbed and pinned her down, engaging in sexual activity against her will. There were also reports of boys ambushing prostitutes and coercing them into sexual acts. A participant in a focus group discussion with out-of-school boys explained, “Especially at night, you come across many girls who have been abducted by a group of men, forcibly taken to a certain location… They are aware that these girls are sex workers who engage in sexual activities in exchange for money. However, these groups of boys lack the financial means, so they simply abduct and exploit them.”
I use condoms in every new relationship, especially when we have become more sexually active and have tested negative for HIV. Some adolescents only use condoms during their menstrual cycle or during unsafe periods. Additionally, some young people believe that very young girls and boys cannot contract STIs, which leads to their reluctance to use condoms. However, there are others who don’t use condoms because they believe they will experience side effects. The mixed messages about safety and the desire for intimacy and pleasure limit the ability of girls to request condom use. Boys, on the other hand, cite reasons such as not having condoms, reduction in pleasure, discomfort, and lack of trust for their non-use. Personally, I don’t use a condom every time, but I have four girlfriends.
The girl stated in an interview that at the age of fifteen, she gave birth to a younger girl after having several sexual encounters with a client promised by her widowed mother, who built a house for her. She described what men were doing to her older sister when she started serving them (specifically, engaging in sexual activities in exchange for money) at the age of fourteen.
When he was 16, the young man, who came from a middle-SES area, said that he had been involved in encounters with prostitutes for two hours and paid €0.50. Eight out of the 75 boys interviewed, who were out of school, acknowledged that they would go to men who could provide them with everything. Many young men recognized that their ability to provide for their girlfriends affected the exclusivity and longevity of their relationships. They interpreted gifts or money received from their partners, such as clothing, underpants, soap, lotion, and body gifts, as loving gestures. “I felt like I should have sex with him just because he gave me gifts,” said one of the interviewed girls. Many others expressed similar sentiments.