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Nairobi, May 27, 2025 — A new study published in BMJ Global Health reveals that climate change and extreme weather events are having a profound impact on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of young adolescents in Kenya, particularly girls aged 10–14. The research highlights how food, water, and sanitation insecurities—exacerbated by droughts and floods—are increasing risks of school dropout, transactional sex, gender-based violence, and early pregnancy among vulnerable youth.
Climate Change: A Public Health Emergency
“Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s an urgent public health emergency for young adolescents,” stated Dr. Carmen Logie, lead author and Professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. Dr. Logie emphasized that resource shortages are forcing children to make difficult choices, including dropping out of school or exchanging sex for basic necessities like food, water, or menstrual products.
First-Hand Accounts from Affected Communities
The study, which included 297 participants across six climate-affected regions—Mathare, Kisumu, Isiolo, Naivasha, Kilifi, and Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement—gathered insights through focus groups, walk-along interviews, and participatory mapping workshops. Researchers from the University of Toronto collaborated with Kenyan community-based organizations, the Center for the Study of Adolescence and Elim Trust.
Girls reported the shame and stigma of lacking clean clothes or menstrual supplies, often leading them to miss school or engage in exploitative relationships to meet basic needs. “These are not isolated incidents,” said co-author Aryssa Hasham. “They’re part of broader, gendered systems of vulnerability and disadvantage that have been exacerbated by climate change.”
Pathways to Increased Risk
The study identified several ways in which climate change is worsening SRH outcomes:
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Droughts and floods disrupt food systems, leading to school dropouts, homelessness, and sexual exploitation.
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Water shortages force girls to travel long distances, exposing them to harassment and violence.
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Lack of safe sanitation increases menstruation-related school absences and coercive sexual encounters for menstrual supplies.
Calls for Climate-Informed Interventions
The authors urge policymakers, NGOs, and health systems to develop climate-informed, adolescent-centered, and gender-transformative programs. “We must act quickly to address the root causes of insecurity to protect young people’s health and futures,” said Dr. Julia Kagunda, Director of Elim Trust.
Looking Forward
This research provides a roadmap for interventions at the intersection of environmental justice and adolescent health, emphasizing the need for urgent action to safeguard the well-being of Kenya’s youth in the face of a changing climate.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on findings from a recent study published in BMJ Global Health and information reported by Medical Xpress. The content is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical or policy advice. For more details, please refer to the original publication: Carmen H. Logie et al, “Climate change, resource insecurities and sexual and reproductive health among young adolescents in Kenya: a multi-method qualitative inquiry,” BMJ Global Health (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016637.
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