Investigating impediments to parental prevention of teenage pregnancies in Narok-north sub county, Narok County, Kenya

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy is detrimental to the wellbeing of the girl child because of its negative impact on health, social and educational outcomes. Parents may encounter challenges that prevent them from helping their girls in preventing pregnancies. This study therefore investigated impediments to parental prevention of teenage pregnancies in Narok-North Sub-County, Narok County, Kenya. The study assessed parental awareness on prevention of teenage pregnancies, determined Parenting strategy in prevention of teenage pregnancies, and examined parental socio-cultural status on prevention of teenage pregnancies. The study utilized Social Network Theory. Descriptive cross-sectional survey design directed the study. Target population of the research was 59,996 families in Narok-North Sub- County. Snowball sampling was applied to obtain a sample size of 165 biological parents from the target population. Simple random sampling was applied to get 10 main respondents who were teenage girls that had fallen pregnant. Data was collected using questionnaires and Interview schedules. Validity and reliability of the tools comprising parental awareness, Parenting strategy and parental socio-cultural status was ensured at a coefficient of .92, .81 and .85 respectively. Data was computed by the use of SPSS version 26.0 and transcripts from interviews were analyzed thematically from the data. On parental awareness on prevention of teenage pregnancies, parental awareness had moderate and positive influence on prevention of teenage pregnancy (at P-value<.05 Mean r = .52) the level of parental awareness on teenage pregnancy moderately and positively influenced prevention of teenage pregnancy. The study established that 48 (30.4%) parents agreed that giving Sexual and Reproductive Health Education to teenage girls reduces cases of teenage pregnancy. However, 44.8% of parents disagreed on taking responsibility for implementation of Sexual and Reproductive Health Education. On Parenting strategy on prevention of teenage pregnancy there was enough statistical evidence (at P value<.05 Mean r = .45) showing Parenting strategy had a low and positive influence on prevention of teenage pregnancy. On parental Socio-Cultural status, significant association and very strong positive correlation was seen between the parental socio – cultural status and prevention of teenage pregnancy (at P value <.05 Mean r = .54) showing that there was statistically significant pattern of influence of parental socio – cultural status on prevention of teenage pregnancy. 82.6% of respondents endorsed that Cultural norms may encourage early marriages. The Study recommends that The Directorate of Children’s Services to provide age appropriate materials that guide parents on how to implement Home Based Sexual and Reproductive Health Education. The Study recommends to the Directorate of Children’s services to upscale forums in Narok North Sub County where parents and teens communicate candidly on sexuality by having them as after school programs in line with the National Plan of Action for Children framework (2008-2012). The Study recommends to the Ministry of Health to set up implementation of the National Plan of Action on Adolescents and Teenage Pregnancy of 2019 aimed at intensifying community workshops that create awareness among parents on cultural norms that predispose teenage girls to pregnancies.