Samburu County Customized Guidelines for Provision of Adolescent and Youth Friendly Services

According to the 2019 Population and Housing Census, the population of Samburu County was 310,327 with 51% of young people aged 35 years and below, adolescents and youth aged10-19 at 26% (approximately 80,686). The 2019 census report indicates literacy among the youth is 41.6 percent though this rate is expected to increase due to County government policies in free primary education and early childhood education (ECDE). Adolescent and youth rural to urban migration is increasing in Maralal, Baragoi, Wamba and Archers Post due to pursuit for education, social economical activities and other social amenities. It is estimated that 85 percent of youth live in disadvantaged rural settings that bear several challenges including poor access to clean drinking water, good health care, education, good housing, economic empowerment and political representation. There has been an increase in social crimes, drug and substance abuse, unplanned pregnancies and STIs among the AY. According to 2020 DHIS County statistics, teenage pregnancies have risen to 3,500, loosely translated to a pregnancy rate of 28% among girls compared to 26% in 2019. A 2019 UNICEF funded adolescent nutrition study conducted in two wards in Samburu Central Sub County revealed that about 22.7% of adolescents aged 10-19 years were underweight with a GAM (<- 2SD), which is a measure of moderate malnutrition. 

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