Climate change, resource insecurities and sexual and reproductive health among young adolescents in Kenya: a multi-method qualitative inquiry

Abstract

Introduction Growing evidence supports linkages between climate change and extreme weather events (EWEs) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among adults. Yet knowledge gaps persist regarding climate-related experiences and pathways to SRH among young adolescents (YA). We conducted a multi-method qualitative study to explore climate change-related factors and linkages with SRH among YA aged 10–14 years in Kenya.

Methods This six-site study was conducted in Nairobi’s urban slum Mathare; Naivasha’s flower farming community; Kisumu’s fishing community; Isiolo’s nomadic and pastoralist community; Kilifi’s coastal smallholder farms and Kalobeyei refugee settlement. Methods involved: n=12 elder focus groups, n=60 YA walk-along interviews (WAIs) and n=12 2-day YA participatory mapping workshops (PMWs). We conducted codebook thematic analysis informed by the resource insecurity framework.

Results Participants (n=297) included: elders (n=119; mean age: 60.6 years, SD: 7.9; men: 48.7%, women: 51.3%), YA WAI participants (n=60; mean age: 13.4, SD: 1.5; boys: 51.4%, girls: 48.6%) and YA PMW participants (n=118; mean age: 12.1, SD: 1.3; boys: 50.8%, girls: 49.2%). Narratives identified climate-related changes and EWEs increased existing resource insecurities that, in turn, were linked directly and indirectly with SRH vulnerabilities. Food and water insecurity contributed to YA missing school, sexual violence, transactional sex and exploitative relationships. Sanitation insecurity produced challenges regarding menstrual hygiene, sexual violence risks and transactional sex. Transactional sex and exploitative relationships were linked with unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection risks. Gender inequities increased girls’ risks for violence and sexual exploitation, whereas boys were more prone to running away.

Conclusion We found that climate change exacerbated resource insecurities that may drive SRH outcomes among YA in Kenya. We developed a conceptual model to illustrate these pathways linking climate change, EWEs, resource insecurities and SRH. Climate-informed interventions should consider these pathways within larger social environmental contexts to advance young adolescent SRH in Kenya.