INFLUENCE OF SEXUAL ATTITUDES, GENDER NORMS AND SEXUAL VALU ES ON THE EDUCATION PARTICIPATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL GIRLS IN HOMA BAY COUNTY

Abstract

Secondary schooling for girls is asAsoBcSiaTteRdA wCiTth much vulnerability. The threat of pregnancy and gender-based inequalities are among the widely studied ones. Sufficient research has yet to be made to understand the underlying attitudes, gender norms and sexual values that instigate these vulnerabilities at an individual level. This study aimed at filling this gap by investigating the influence of sexual attitudes, gender norms and sexual values on the education participation of secondary school girls in Homa Bay County (HBC). The objectives of the study were to determine the influence of sexual attitudes on the educational participation of secondary school girls in HBC, to assess the influence of gender norms on the educational participation of secondary school girls in HBC, and to evaluate the influence of sexual values on the education participation of secondary school girls in HBC. The study adopted a Concurrent Transformative research design- majorly quantitative with an embedded qualitative bit. The study took place in Homa Bay County. The targeted population comprised all secondary school girls in HBC. The sample population was limited to 21315 secondary school girls in the three sub-counties of Ndhiwa, Rachwonyo East and Rachwonyo South. Using Solvin’s formula, a sample size of 393 was determined and the respondents were chosen by stratified sampling method from 6 mixed secondary schools and 6 pure girls’ schools. Additionally, one guidance/counselling teacher, one principal from each of the participating schools and three sub-county education directors were purposefully included in the study to provide complementary qualitative data. Data from female students was collected by means of questionnaires while interview schedules were used to collect data from the rest of the participants. A pilot study was conducted to ensure instrument efficiency and reliability. Convergent validity for the four latent variables posted a mean average variance extracted (AVE) of 0.561 (education participation), 0.638 (sexual attitude), 0.692 (gender norms) and 0.618 (sexual values). Discriminant validity was confirmed by correlation values less than the square root of the corresponding AVE value. Instrument reliability was confirmed by the composite reliability index of 0.695. The quantitative data was coded and analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. Structural Equation Modelling was used to quantify the relationships between the variables. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Data triangulation was done through discussion. The study was guided by Problem Behaviour Theory. The relationship between each of the three independent variables and the dependent variable was found to be statistically significant at a p-value <.001, α=0.05. Data evidence against the null hypotheses meant that alternative hypotheses were validated. The study found that the sexual attitudes of the majority of the girls in HBC were inclined towards sexual gratification. It also found a significant identification with mothering roles, unquestioning submissiveness to men and eroded confidence in sexual abstinence values. The study noted that these findings do not predict favourable education participation for secondary school girls in Homa Bay County. Based on these findings, the study recommends that school authorities promote the formation of girls’ sexual sobriety peer teams (SSPT) that meet regularly to unpack the potential risks/costs of premature sex and blind adherence to certain gender norms. The study poses that interventions to improve girls’ education participation in HBC will benefit from these findings. The study recommends similar studies in other counties to gauge the viability of generalizing these findings beyond HBC.