The Influence of Perceptions of Friends and Peers Contraceptive Use on Modern Contraceptive Use and Method Choice among Male and Female Adolescents and Youth in Kenya

Lisa M. Calhoun, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Anastasia Mirzoyants, Well Told Story
Sylvia Thuku, Well Told Story
Courtney McGuire, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bernard Onyango, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)
Ilene S. Speizer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Using recently collected population-based data, this paper explores the influence of perceptions of friends or peers use of contraceptives on modern contraceptive use and method choice among adolescent and youth males and females in Kenya. Our results show that males who perceive friends and peers use contraceptives are more likely to use condoms as compared to non-use. Female adolescents and youth who perceive that friends and peers use contraceptives are more likely to use short acting hormonal methods or condoms as compared to nonuse, though are less likely to use LARCs or short acting hormonal methods as compared to condoms. Perceived friend and peer use is associated with condom use over use of long-acting methods or short acting hormonal methods. The results of this study can be used to develop programs that address the influence of peers on youth contraceptive use.