DETERMINANTS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY PREVALENCE IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Kenya, through the Ministry of Health has a target to reduce the pregnancy rate among teenage girls to 10% by 2025. It is estimated that approximately 3000 girls drop out of school annually in Kenya due to teenage pregnancy. Kakamega County is one of the counties in Kenya with high teenage pregnancy rate of 15%. The study sought to assess the determinants of teenage pregnancy prevalence in Kakamega County. The specific objectives of the study were: to determine the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Kakamega County; to determine the economic factors influencing teenage pregnancy prevalence in Kakamega County; to examine the cultural factors influencing teenage pregnancy prevalence in Kakamega County, and to assess the peer group influence on teenage pregnancy prevalence in Kakamega County. The Sexual Script and Symbolic Interaction Theories guided the study. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted for this study. The target population was teenagers between 15-19 years. Purposive sampling was used to select Butere, Ikolomani Sub-Counties, random sampling technique was also used to select two wards in each Sub-County, and systematic sampling was used to obtain participants. Sample size of 438 was arrived at using Yamane (1967). Quantitative data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires while qualitative data were collected using KIIs. Quantitative data was analysed using STATA version 18. Descriptive and analytical statistics (Chi-square and Binary logistic regression test) were carried out. Values were considered significant at P value <0.05. Content analysis was done on qualitative data. Those from poorest families were 94 times more likely to get pregnant compared to those from middle families (OR=93.563, CI= 26.562- 329.565). Teenage family with monthly income of less than 2500 were 90.1% less likely to be pregnant compared to those with family monthly income of 10,000 and above (OR=0.099, CI= 0.028- 0.346. On the cultural factors, there was a strong association on religious support of sex before marriage ( 2 =93.78; P=<0.001). On peer pressure, 75.6% of teenagers said peer pressure led to teenage pregnancy, teenagers who desired to experiment based on sex stories were about 3 times more likely to be pregnant (OR=2.809, CI=1.397-5.650) and teenagers who feared losing boyfriends were 2 times more likely to be pregnant than those who did not (OR=2.223, CI= 1.222-4.044). Teenage pregnancy is influenced by wealth Index, monthly income, religious sex support before marriage, sex discussion and peer influence. Multi-sectoral approach in addressing these issues in Kakamega County is important in reducing Teenage pregnancy prevalence.