| dc.description.abstract | Teenage pregnancy has become a global concern. In Kenya it is prevalent where good
parenting is not well exercised. Existence of children’s Act mandates parents the
responsibility of ultimate care and protection of children. Additionally, the National
Adolescent Reproductive Health and Development policy promotes adolescent sexual
and reproductive health and rights. Despite the presence of legal frameworks for care,
provision and protection of children, teenage pregnancy has been on an upward trend
in Kakamega County specifically Malava subcounty. The study sought to assess
effects of parenting on teenage pregnancy. Specifically, the study determined to find
out the influence of parenting styles on teenage pregnancy, established the influence
of sexual health education by parents on teenage pregnancy, determined to find out the
effects of parental supervision on teenage pregnancy and evaluated the effectiveness
of parent -teenage communication on teenage pregnancy. The study focused on girls
between 15 to 19 years of age. The study was guided by the theory of social learning
by Albert Bandura (1925) and theory of action systems by Talcott Parsons (1951). For
Social learning theory behavior is learned through observation, imitation and
modelling while for the theory of action systems calls for a focus on the whole system
to enhance a desired change rather than as separate units. The study was conducted in
Malava subcounty, Kakamega County, Kenya. Mixed methods research design was
used. The sample size for the study was 178 respondents from a target population of
321 selected based on Taro Yamane's sample determination formula. The sample size
for key informants was 46 respondents. Purposive sampling and simple random
sampling were employed to select respondents. Data was collected using
questionnaires, key informant interviews and Focus group discussion. Instruments
Validity and reliability was tested by Content validity, test-retest and Cronbach’s
Alpha Index for reliability. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics
such as mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics such as regression analysis
while qualitative data employed content analysis. Analyzed data was presented in
tables, pie charts and graphs. Study findings for objective one established that 72.3%
of the variations in the teenage pregnancy can be explained by parenting style. For
objective two, findings revealed that 0.7% of the variations in the teenage pregnancy
can be explained by sexual health education of parents to teenagers. Third objective
revealed that 47.4% of the variations in teenage pregnancy can be explained by
parental supervision and consequently for the fourth objective the findings revealed
that 1.7% of the variations in the teenage pregnancy can be explained by parent
teenage communication The study contributes to academic body of knowledge and
provides basis for policy formulation on parenting. The study concludes that parenting
has a significant contribution to teenage pregnancy as revealed through the findings of
all the four objectives. The study recommends to the ministry through the department
of children services to sensitize the public about good parenting/positive parenting in
order to reverse escalating teenage pregnancy. | en_US |
