dc.description.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. |
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