Health & Wellness
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
In Kenya, the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents remain deeply unmet. According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS), nearly 15% of girls aged 15–19 had begun childbearing. AHRTA works to dismantle structural and social barriers that prevent young people—especially girls—from accessing SRHR information and services. We conduct community-based sessions, distribute contraceptives through youth-friendly health clinics, and run digital campaigns that confront taboos around sexuality, consent, and reproductive choice. Our peer educators play a key role in shifting attitudes and promoting healthy relationships.
Menstrual Health Management
Menstruation remains a silent crisis in Kenyan schools. In low-income areas, 65% of girls report missing school due to menstruation, according to a Ministry of Education report. AHRTA addresses this through the distribution of menstrual hygiene kits and reusable pads, installation of private sanitation facilities, and structured health education programs for both boys and girls. Our sessions deconstruct stigma, engage male allies, and create school-based menstrual management clubs to ensure dignity for every menstruating adolescent.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Mental health is emerging as one of the most urgent challenges facing Kenya’s youth. The National Mental Health Survey (2022) revealed that 44.3% of adolescents aged 10–17 exhibit symptoms of mental health conditions, with 12.2% meeting clinical criteria for a mental disorder. AHRTA has responded by embedding psychosocial support into all its programs, training lay counselors and offering both group therapy and one-on-one sessions. In collaboration with schools, we’ve launched mental wellness clubs and campaigns that normalize help-seeking and address issues like bullying, anxiety, and trauma resulting from abuse or conflict.
Drug and substance abuse is a growing threat to adolescent well-being. A 2023 NACADA report indicated that one in five high school students has experimented with drugs—most commonly alcohol, marijuana, prescription pills, and inhalants. AHRTA operates prevention programs in schools, trains peer counselors to identify early signs of abuse, and partners with rehabilitation centers to offer adolescents confidential referrals. We also run parent engagement workshops to build supportive, communicative homes.
HIV/AIDS Testing, Counseling, and Linkage to Care
Kenyan adolescents—especially girls aged 15–24—face a disproportionately high risk of HIV infection. In 2022, 7,307 new infections were recorded in this age group. AHRTA provides comprehensive HIV prevention education, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), and ensures linkage to treatment for HIV-positive adolescents. We collaborate with health facilities to expand access to PrEP, ART, and psychosocial support for young people living with HIV.