Connecting teenagers and youngsters to reproductive health through sport

Context

The data disclosed by the Kenyan Demography and Health Survey (KDHS) of 2014-2015 show that 39.9 % of the women have been pregnant at least once before they are 19. These early pregnancies entail high risks of preterm deliveries, light weights at birth and other motherhood complications. In addition, the proliferation of sexually transmissible infections is a major challenge for poorer communities. The populations don’t have access to modern contraceptive methods. In Mathare slums, the situation has got worse on account of the hard living conditions and the lack of sexual and reproductive education, causing thereby a lot more unwanted early pregnancies, and the proliferation of HIV/AIDS and other STIs, etc.

MYSA, working with other partners, has designed an education and sensitisation programme for adolescents and youngsters who constitute the most vulnerable and exposed group. The objective is to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services in the poorer communities through sport.

Objectives

• Meeting adolescents and young women’s emergent needs in reproductive health
• Facilitating access to contraceptives, to support services to health education enabling adolescents and young women to understand their sexuality and protecting them against unwanted pregnancies, STIs, etc.
• Democratising services of reproductive health and assistance to sick people
• Protecting adolescents and young women against sexual abuse, forced marriages and early pregnancies
• Favouring the practice of physical and sporting activities among the adolescents and youngsters living in slums

Activities

• Hiring and training coaches / instructors who shall be in charge of organising and monitoring sporting and health activities
• Giving out contraception kits to the adolescents and youngsters from Mathare and its vicinity
• Organising sporting events, notably the MYSA Football League, in 22 different communities
• Awareness raising campaigns on family planning benefits, STI risks and dangers, and on sexual and mental health, etc.
• Free consultation days and HIV/AIDS tests along with support services for people testing positive

Impacts 

• 5,000 adolescents (registered in the association as players or coaches) aged 10 to 17 and youths aged 18 to 30 in the poorer communities of Mathare and the neighbouring areas shall be the direct beneficiaries
• 2,000 other youngsters with a limited access to health services in the localities targeted by the association
• 1,940 people (440 women and 1,500 men) will be receiving modern contraception kits
• 1,500 HIV/AIDS tests (900 women and 600 men) shall be done with the help of 60 youths who shall be selected and trained as health agents.

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