44

The attitudes of men toward sex remains an under researched topic across sub-Saharan Africa. We set out to examine sexual attitudes and their associations with demographic characteristics among Kenyan men. A SAQ, based on the Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale (BSAS), was deployed among 501 men aged 18–54 in Nairobi. Sample selection was based on multistage cluster random disproportionate sampling. Linear regression analyses present demographic associations with permissiveness, birth control, and instrumentality (p<0.05). Mean scores of the components of sexual attitude included permissiveness (3.2), birth control (1.6), communion (1.8), and instrumentality (3.1). Overall, men’s attitudes toward sexual permissiveness and instrumentality appear to be neutral, despite the chronically high prevalence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, evidenced by persistent risky sexual behaviors that conflict with the study outcomes. These results indicate shifting and converging sexual attitudes among Kenyan men. Considering the multidimensionality of sexual attitudes and trends, it is essential to adapt the BSAS to African populations and to integrate other sexual behavior scales.