Understanding the Nature and Influence of "Force" in Sexual Encounters of Youth in Two Regions of Kenya.

Understanding the Nature and Influence of "Force" in Sexual Encounters of Youth in Two Regions of Kenya, Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale, Chris Brouillard-Coyle, Karen Metcalfe, and Dan Holland, University of Windsor, Canada; Janet Wildish and Mary Gichuru, Centre for British Teachers, Kenya

We tested hypotheses about what youth mean by and how they experience being "forced" to engage in sexual activity. Data are from focus group interviews (42 group interviews with 210 youth) and questionnaires (n = 19,030) completed by youth ranging from 11 to 17 years of age from 160 communities in Nyanza Province and 40 in Rift Valley, Kenya. Data were collected between March 2002 and October 2003 as part of the baseline research and post-program evaluation of an HIV-education initiative in upper primary schools. Questionnaire items were designed to test conceptualizations of force that emerged from focus group discussions. In focus groups, youth described force in sexual encounters as multifaceted, omnipresent, and as removing the possibility of resistance. Elements of force were grounded in biology; peer relationships; social norms related to sexuality, gender, and generation; gendered economic roles and access; and the scripting of sexual encounters. Questionnaire items were constructed to measure the experience of each dimension of force and to test two hypotheses that emerged from the qualitative data: (a) that the experience of any dimension of force necessitates sexual intercourse; (b) that sexual intercourse is most often experienced within the context of experiences of force. Results of the quantitative analysis support the research hypotheses and lead to a rejection of the null hypotheses. The reported research is limited in scope to only two regions in one country, and to newly-developed questionnaire items that require further testing. The results do suggest, however, that further research in this area is warranted; that it is important to consider the context of "force" when developing an understanding of how youth experience sexual encounters; and that such an understanding needs to be integrated into HIV-prevention programs targeting youth.