Poster #170 - Association Between Sexting and Adolescent Sexual Behaviour in Nairobi, Kenya

• In Event: 2-002 - Special Poster Session 05 with Continental Breakfast Reception
  In Poster Session: PS 05 - International Section

Integrative Statement

Sexting has been conceptualized as sending or receiving sexual messages and images using mobile phones. Globally, young adults and adolescents are the largest consumers of sexting. With the increasing number of uncensored social media platforms, sexting among adolescents has become rampant and more dangerous to the minors due to lack of parental regulation. This study sought to examine the relationship between sexting and adolescent sexual behaviour with the aim of developing interventions for minimizing the negative effects that may be associated with this practice. The study aimed at examining the prevalence of sexting among adolescents in Nairobi, exploring the common sexual behaviours among adolescents and the relationship between sexting and sexual behaviour among adolescents in Nairobi. The study adopted exploratory sequential mixed method design. This was a two phase study starting with collection and analysis of qualitative data followed by collection and analysis of quantitative data. A sample of 421 participants was selected for the study. The qualitative sample comprised of 30 high school students selected by random purposeful sampling while the quantitative sample consisted of 391 high school students selected by simple random sampling. Qualitative data were collected using focused group discussion and analyzed using thematic analysis. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using univariate and correlation analysis. The questionnaire showed internal consistency of alpha 0.78. Findings showed high prevalence (87%) of sexting among high school adolescents in Nairobi County. Majority of the participants (60%) reported daily sexting with 25% reporting weekly sexting while 15 % reported rare sexting. A strong positive correlation (r=0.714, p<0.05) was found between sexting and adolescent risky sexual behaviour. Adolescents reported the need for answers on sexuality issues, lack of willingness among adults to engage them on this topic and the need for safe and trusting environment for sexual exploration as the rationale for their engagement in sexting. The study recommends parental guidance mobile applications to be used in regulating explicit content on adolescent phones, open and candid talks on adolescent sexuality with adults and counselling for the adolescents as the appropriate ways of tackling this problem.

Author

• Stephen Asatsa, The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
  Presenting Author