Like Chocolate: Adolescent Emergency Contraception Use in Nairobi

Karen P. Fogg, Emory University
Jill Keesbury, Population Council

In 2004, the Kenyan media reported that easy access to emergency contraception (EC) had spawned an epidemic of risky sexual behavior among adolescents. Based largely on anecdotal evidence, these sensationalized reports influenced both the public and policy debates on EC and adolescent sexuality in the country. To better inform these debates, and contribute to the emerging global literature on EC and risk perception, the Population Council undertook a rapid diagnostic assessment of EC use among adolescents in Nairobi. In July and August 2005, 300 girls between the ages of 14 and 25 were surveyed on EC knowledge and use, sexual behavior, and perceived risk of pregnancy and contracting HIV. Data from this assessment will help gauge the extent of EC use among the target population and provide initial insights into the relationship between access to EC and sexual risk-taking.