Experiences of female students on strategies addressing teenage pregnancies in Secondary Schools in Khwisero Sub-County, Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

In 2015, Kenya advanced a national Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Policy (ASRH) whose main objective was to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies in the country. Despite the implementation of the ASRH policy, the rates of teenage pregnancy are still high. The rising rates of teenage pregnancies raise the need to explore strategies for addressing teenage pregnancy based on the experiences of the direct beneficiaries of such strategies. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of female students on strategies addressing teenage pregnancies in secondary schools in the Khwisero sub-county, Kenya. The study was guided by three objectives: to explore the experiences of female students on Life skills Education in addressing teenage pregnancies, to investigate the experiences of female students on economic support in addressing teenage pregnancies, and to establish the experiences of female students on the use of contraceptives to address teenage pregnancies in secondary schools in Khwisero sub-county, Kenya. The study was guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. It was based on the constructivism paradigm, where a qualitative approach was adopted and the research design was a multi- case study. Data was collected through focus group discussions and drawings. The study sample included form three female students in secondary schools in Khwisero Sub-County. Convenient sampling was used to sample schools, purposive sampling was used to sample form three female students as participants in the discussions. The findings revealed that Life Skills Education has helped in addressing teenage pregnancies. However, some students do not exercise what they are taught in Life Skills to address teenage pregnancy, instead, they still engage in sex and get pregnant. The findings further revealed that economic support has been embraced by many people in the society besides the government and it is beneficial in addressing teenage pregnancies. On the other hand, the support is not enough to meet the students’ basic needs thus some end up engaging in sex for money to meet their needs. It was also established that the school holiday that was brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic led to a further increase in the rates of teenage pregnancies. This is because they did not receive the economic support that they would be offered while in school and for those who received, the amount had been reduced. Moreover, most teenagers had little to do at home, they had more free time and little hope of getting back to school. They, therefore, engaged in unprotected sex. Teenagers were aware of the use of contraceptives and they are using them. However, they faced major challenges such as unfriendly medical practitioners who were not welcoming to teenagers making them shy away, and some teenagers have negative opinions on the side effects of using contraceptives. Thus, others opted for abstinence as a strategy to address teenage pregnancies. In conclusion, the study found that female students have been assisted in addressing teenage pregnancy through Life Skills Education, economic support, and the use of contraceptives. However, there are barriers to addressing teenage pregnancies that is, some students are not receptive to Life Skills Education, poverty, and societal norms. Therefore, the study recommends that students should be involved in the formulation and revision of the strategies addressing teenage pregnancies for them to voice their opinions and concerns since they are the direct beneficiaries. Economic support is to be continued but the amount is to be increased and there should be a provision of youth-friendly contraception.