Single Mothers and Parenting in Kenya: the Case of Zimmerman, Nairobi County

Abstract

Parenting is more than just giving birth. Basically, it includes the many specific behaviours that work individually and together to influence the final outcome of the child. The process of parenting has been changing over time with single parenting becoming an increasingly acceptable phenomenon in the contemporary society with a number of households being female headed hence the focus on single mothers in this study. The purpose of the study was to investigate how effective single mothers are in parenting in Kenya. The study objectives were to find out how parenting is conceptualized today, find out the indicators of effective parenting, and identify challenges faced by single mothers and to assess the coping mechanisms among the single mothers. The study was based on two theories: Social learning theory and Structural functionalism theory. To achieve the objectives of the study, both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied. The study was undertaken among the single mothers from Zimmerman, Nairobi County. Under the quantitative arm, a total of 170 respondents were interviewed. Non probability sampling was used to get the single mothers households and Snow ball technique was used to identify the single mothers. Single mothers rating of various statements under selected indicators of parenting was captured through a ranking scale. The study findings reveal that today’s parents are largely aware of what parenting entails. Majority (63.5%) stated that parenting is more than just giving birth. However, there are increasing aspects of delegated parenting with majority (41.2%) of children being left under the care of house helps while the mothers are away. Despite the many challenges faced by the single mothers, they have adopted coping mechanisms that have resulted in effective parenting. The researcher recommends training of young mothers on parenting and creation of neighbourhood networks that takes care of the children in the absence of their mothers.