| Abstinence program | | The health concern
Kenyan youth, especially young women, continue to be at high risk of contracting HIV due to a variety of factors, particularly early sexual debut. Early marriage and “rites of passage” traditionally have served to educate youth on matters of sexuality and marriage. However, for modern Kenyan youth, enrollment in and graduation from either primary or secondary school and merely becoming sexually active have now defined the transition to adulthood. While school enrollment is one modern substitute for rites of passage, teachers alone cannot simultaneously meet their educational objectives and provide full information on sexual health, teach appropriate sexual behavior, and provide psychosocial support through these formative years to each of their students. While parents play a crucial role in providing this support, most feel uncomfortable discussing sexual matters with their children. |
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| Communication and media interventions carried out by HCM to date that encourage abstinence | In 2004, HCM produced Kenya’s first large scale abstinence campaign, Nimechill, a mass media abstinence campaign whose objective was to increase self-esteem and confidence among 10 – 15 year old youth in regards to delaying sex. The aim of the campaign was to make abstinence “cool” and normal and to reduce peer pressure regarding having sex. |
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APHIA II REGIONS 
