Table 3 Illustrative quotes related to factors facilitating access of SRH information and services among AY

Supporting AYSRH programs in schools

Q45

Apart from teachers giving SRH information, there are also organizations that visit students. I am even one of them. I have a group of other people, and we visit schools and request for permission to give students information (CHVs FGD, Tana River County)

Q46

Guiding and counselling people are brought to schools to teach. (Adolescent girls FGD, 15–19 Years, Kwale County)

Q47

A long time ago doctors from King Fahad hospital came and talked to us about drugs. They told us if a pregnant woman takes drugs, the baby will get affected. (Adolescent Boys, 10–14 Years, Lamu County)

Supportive Parenting

Q48

According to how people are brought up here, when you reach puberty, your parents will tell you that ‘You are now a grown-up person, so you need to do this and that.’ That is the parent telling you that if you do this you will get a certain problem. (Youth FGD, 20–24, Lamu County)

Q49

I think it depends on the relationship between parents and the children. In some families, people discuss issues openly, and if one has a problem, it’s easier for them to inform their parents and they will recommend going to hospital. But for those who are restricted, they are isolated and have little interactions. If such youths get a small opportunity, they mess up. (Youths FGD, 20–24 Years, Mombasa County)

Peer support

Q50

For those who are friends, they share a lot of information and even their problems.

(CHVs FGD, Kilifi County)

Q51

It’s easy for them to share information among themselves. (CHVs FGD, Lamu County)

Q52

It’s rare to find a parent giving SRH information to their children, so we learn from experience or from friends. (Youths FGD, 20–24 Years, Mombasa County)

Q53

My elder brother told me if I use a condom, I will prevent pregnancy. (Adolescent boys FGD, 10–14 Years, Lamu County)

Supportive health system

Q54

Here [health facility], people are given information. Before start of services, people are taught about different things, like menstruation hygiene, about FP. They talk to the mabinti (young girls) if they are there, but they also talk to mothers so that they can convey the messages at home. (CHVs FGD, Kilifi County)

Q55

Some doctors understand, if you tell them what you feel. They will ask you what you did and help. But some will be arrogant to you and ask you ‘Why did you do it?’’ (Adolescent girls FGD, 15–19 Year. Mombasa County)

Q56

I think TVs give more information because information could be given by a professional health care worker on RH, but maybe the parents did not even step in a classroom and do not know many things. They will only tell you a few things which they may know and leave others which you will leave you ignorant about them. (Adolescent girls FGD, 15–19 Years, Kwale County)

Q57

There were assumptions that girls went through more challenging SRH experiences in comparison to boys; consequently, they needed to be knowledgeable and protect themselves, for example, from unintended pregnancy (CHVs FGD, Lamu County).