Kenya update: FRONTIERS adolescent reproductive health project

The Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Project (KARHP) was launched in October 1999 in Busia and Vihiga districts as a three-year operations research study to determine the feasibility, cost, and effectiveness of implementing systematic interventions that address the reproductive health (RH) needs of adolescents aged 10–19 years. This USAID-funded project is part of the Population Council’s Frontiers in Reproductive Health Program’s global operations research. PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health) is implementing the project, in collaboration with the Ministries of Health, Education, and Home Affairs, Heritage, and Sports. The objective of the study is to establish the effectiveness of interventions designed to increase adolescents’ RH knowledge, delay the onset of sexual activity, increase adolescent use of RH services, and reduce risky sexual behavior. The community-based intervention comprises two components. The first is geared toward sensitizing stakeholders in the community about the need for adolescent RH services and information. The second provides services and information to adolescents through out-of-school peer educators. This document provides an update on the KARHP project.