Economic Determinants of Sexual Debut among In-School Adolescents in Rural Kenya

Most people are driven by material gains and adolescents are no exception. We set to determine the influence of economic factors on sexual debut among in-school adolescents through the lens of the Marxist theory. A mixed-method design, quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, was used. Three sets of adolescents were targeted in the study: mixed-sex day secondary schools, girls-only boarding and boys-only boarding secondary schools, where, a sample of 400 (200 females and 200 males) aged 14 - 18 years were drawn for purposes of a quantitative survey. Focus group discussions (FGDs), Case Narratives and Key Informant interviews were used to collect qualitative data. The results indicate that 61% had ever had sex, more students (63.5%) in mixed day schools had ever had sex compared to single sex schools (58.5%). Male students were more likely to have ever had sex compared to female students [OR = 1.59 (95% CI 0.83, 1.85), p = 0.03]. Most of the students got spending money (89%) and gifts (60%) from their parents. However, those receiving gifts from boy/girlfriends had four times the odds of ever having sex (OR 4.04, 95% CI 1.36 - 11.97). Qualitative data on the other hand revealed that the need for money for basic needs and also for pleasure played a significant role in early sexual debut among adolescents. In conclusion, the majority of the in-school adolescents in Nyamira county had ever had sex. Most students got sustenance from their parents, implying a high likelihood of a pluralist environment where peer pressure, cultural norming and popular culture on social and mainstream media also contributed to early sexual debut. Those with money were seen to have power over another’s autonomy and a person’s economic environment was seen to influence their decisions collaborating the Marxist theory.