Health services and the adolescent health situation in a rural setting: the Kenyan experience

This study examined the adolescent health situation in Siaya District. The findings indicate that there are no particular health services specifically targeting the adolescent in the district. The adolescent health situation in the district is badly off and prevalence of diseases is high amongst them. They are faced with STDs/AIDS, pregnancies, drug abuse, abortion, alcoholism among others. The adolescent in the district are not aware of the existing health services that could be of help to them. They are not aware of their general and reproductive health as it were, but they are very much aware of contraceptives. The study revealed that their attitude towards the existing medical and nursing services including the medical staff is very negative. They do no have proper information system and the health facilities are inaccessible to them. Teachers and radio play a major part in disseminating information to them. The health staff are very much aware of the adolescent health needs. Most health staff have communication problems with the adolescents. Not so many schools offer heath services and for those which offer, it is only simple diagnosis and treatment. Students dropping out of schools are mostly victims of pregnancies and drug-abuse or alcoholism. This revealed that the adolescents in the district need immediate help as far as their health needs are concerned.