Study finds Murang’a County has highest proportion of women with multiple sexual partners

A study by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has found that Murang’a County has the highest proportion of women who had two or more intimate partners in the past 12 months.

The study, which was published in February 2023, found that 11% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 in Murang’a County had multiple sexual partners, compared to the national average of 7%.

The study also found that Mandera, Tana River, and Kwale counties had the lowest percentage of women with multiple sexual partners, at less than 1% each.

The study’s findings suggest that there are significant variations in the prevalence of multiple sexual partnerships among women in different parts of Kenya.

The study also found that the proportion of women with multiple sexual partners increases with education.

For example, 7% of women with no formal education had multiple sexual partners, compared to 27% of women with at least a secondary education.

The study’s findings suggest that education may play a role in promoting safe sexual behaviors and reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The study was conducted by the KNBS in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and other partners.

The study gathered data from 42,300 households across Kenya from February 17 to July 31, 2022.

The data was collected using a household questionnaire, a woman’s questionnaire, a man’s questionnaire, and a biomarker questionnaire.

The study’s findings are important for policymakers and health care providers who are working to promote safe sexual behaviors and reduce the spread of STIs in Kenya.