Sources of sexual knowledge and information and sexual attitudes of men in Kenya
Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
School
School of Arts and Humanities
First Supervisor
Kwadwo Adusei-Asante
Second Supervisor
Madalena Grobbelaar
Third Supervisor
Victor Fannam Nunfam
Abstract
The multi-dimensionality of sexual attitudes as influenced by sources of sexual knowledge and information has implications for men’s sexuality and public health. The sources of sexual knowledge and information and relationship with sexual attitudes and behaviours among adult heterosexual men in sub-Saharan Africa remain relatively understudied. This is despite their impact on sexual health and well-being and interest in public health due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the continent. In most of sub-Sharan Africa, school-based sexuality education appears to be the only formal source of sexual knowledge and information.
An exploratory sequential mixed method study including six in-depth interviews and 501 surveys was applied to understand how sources of sexual knowledge relate to sexual attitudes and sexual behaviours across the demographic characteristics of heterosexual men, 18-54 years old in Nairobi, Kenya. The intention was to uncover key knowledge to inform policies and practice on sexual health and future sex research.
An Interpretive Phenomenological Approach (IPA) was utilised for both data collection, analysis and interpretation in the qualitative phase. All men obtained some information from school, but mainly peers and mass media/internet continue to play key role for sexual knowledge and information across all demographics. Sexual permissiveness was high in the qualitative sample with multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships perceived to represent expressions of manhood.
An Interpretive Phenomenological Approach (IPA) was utilised for both data collection, analysis and interpretation in the qualitative phase. All men obtained some information from school, but mainly peers and mass media/internet continue to play key role for sexual knowledge and information across all demographics. Sexual permissiveness was high in the qualitative sample with multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships perceived to represent expressions of manhood.
In the quantitative phase, linear regression analyses present demographic associations with permissiveness, birth control and instrumentality (P < 0.05) to reject Hypothesis (H)1. There were significant differences in access to sexual knowledge across demographics rejecting H1. There was significant relationship between sources of sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes, rejecting H3. We found that men who accessed sexual knowledge information from peers, mass media including internet pornography had more liberal/ permissive attitudes towards sex as compared to those who obtained information from parents and religious institutions.
The mixed methods result provides a novel opportunity to apprise practice, policies and sex research on men’s sexuality in relation to sexual knowledge, information, attitudes and behaviours among adult men in Africa with particular reference to Kenya. Methodological analysis implies that utilizing mixed methods can influence robust outcomes in sex research across sub-Saharan Africa, giving voice to the numbers gathered in quantitative surveys through interviews. Further research with heterosexual adult men should assess how sexual attitudes are changing due to increased access to mass media/internet and easy access to increased sexual knowledge and information and how these influences sexual behaviour.
This study outcome is important for informing sexual and reproductive health research not only in Kenya but sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, with potential to determine public health and sexual health policies. It also has implications for sex research, sexological practice and sexual and reproductive health services and education with men in the continent.
Access Note
Access to this thesis has been embargoed until 16th March 2025.
Recommended Citation
Ndasi, D. (2023). Sources of sexual knowledge and information and sexual attitudes of men in Kenya. Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2638