Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Teen Pregnancies In Kwanza Sub-County, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya

Abstract

Globally teenage Pregnancy has become a worrying trend. Young girls drop out of school due to pregnancy and may not continue with their normal life. Teenage pregnancy refers to girls becoming pregnant below the age of 19 years. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the socio-economic factors influencing teen pregnancies in Kwanza Sub-County, Tran-Nzoia County. The target population was 704 which included 700 pregnant teens and mothers and four officers from health facilities in Kwanza sub-county. After obtaining verbal consent, the teen mothers and teen pregnant girls were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to determine circumstances that led them into pregnancies. After assembling and organizing completed instruments, the study used descriptive statistics to analyze data. Quantitative data was analyzed using the descriptive statistical tools of average or mean, percentages and frequencies. This data was presented in terms of tables, graphs and charts. In analyzing general and demographic information the study computed percentages of the respondents who provided data. Qualitative data on the other hand was organized and summarized into themes opinions, reports and patterns relevant to the study. Chapter four presents, analyzes interprets and discusses data collected by the research using the methods described in chapter three. The purpose was to transform the raw data into information that is manageable, presented in an attractive, communicative manner. The interpretation aimed at drawing logical and sensible findings from the information gotten from the study. The study‟s main findings are that negative social models influence negatively the girl child hence increase teen pregnancies. The study recommends that positive role modeling strategies be provided in the family and school and by extension in the community.