The brief describes two evidence-generation efforts undertaken by Pathfinder’s Evidence to Action (E2A) Project and Kenyatta University (KU), along with support from Pathfinder International, Kenya, from 2015-2016: the first involved an assessment of select KU service delivery statistics, and the second was a qualitative research study on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs, attitudes, preferences, and behaviors of KU students. The emerging results have provided a deeper understanding of the overall context for SRH-related activity and service utilization at KU, including insights on student ‘demand’, university-based ‘supply’, and the broader campus environment. This research brief summarizes the main findings from the quantitative assessment and qualitative research.
The brief includes recommendations that can be applied to strengthening SRH services for university students at KU and beyond. While the data may be specific to KU, many findings reflect the general SRH situation of university students around the world, and the recommendations will be useful for other institutions interested in developing and implementing effective SRH programs.
