Factors Influencing Teenage Pregnancies in Kenyan Public Primary Schools: A Case of Kitui County Kenya
Abstract
This research focused on four specific themes; to assess how individual, sex education, poverty and cultural factors influence teenage pregnancies. The study adapted descriptive study design. The targeted population was 352 out of which a sample size of 50 was utilized. Data analysis was done through help of Statistical Package for Social Science. On testing of hypothesis, a factor increase in (X1) individual factors would lead to an increase in teenage pregnancies by 0.04, whereas a unit increase in sex education (X2) would lead to a reduction in teenage pregnancies (Y) by 0.153, consequently, poverty factor (X3) accounted for 30% (0.304) of teenage pregnancies in public schools. X4(Cultural factors) was determined as the highest factor affecting teenage pregnancies accounting for 0.405 (40%). Conclusion was that, X1, X3 and X4 had positive influence on Y. However, X2(Sex education) had a negative effect, thus sex education should be taught to reduce cases of teenage pregnancies (Y).X3 and X4 had significance values higher than 0.05 implying that the metrics were significant in determining factors affecting teenage pregnancies (Y) except for X2 and X1.The significance values for the three factors were less than 0.05 thus statistically significant in determining teenage pregnancies while X2 had a significance value of 0.312 which is above 0.05 indicating that there was strong negative relationship between the factor. Recommendation was that, public primary schools have to teach sex education to decrease cases of adolescent pregnancies. National Government and County Government of Kitui, collaborate with the community in eradicating poverty with focus to supporting needy teenager girls. A replicate of the same with an emphasis in more objectives such as peer pressure and social economic aspect to all Administrative wards in Ikutha Sub County and other Counties in Kenya.
Key Words: Individual Factor, Sex Education Factor, Poverty Factor, Cultural Factor and Teenage Pregnancies.
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