dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that influence adoption of life skills
programs among female sex workers with a focus on Naivasha Sub County, Kenya.
This study has four objectives, namely, to establish the influence of cultural
stigmatization and discrimination on adoption of life skills programmes among female
sex workers; to establish the influence of education levels or background on the
adoption of life skills programmes among female sex workers; to assess to what
extent the sex violence and exploitation has influenced on adoption of life skills
among female sex workers; and to determine the influence of poverty on adoption of
life skills programmes among female sex workers. The study employed descriptive
research involving both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study sampled a
total of 119 respondents from the target population of 237 categorized as mentors/peer
educators (17), reformed female sex workers (46) and current sex workers (56). The
sample size of the study was arrived at using stratified random sampling and equal
allocation method. The researcher collected primary data with the help of both open
ended and closed ended questionnaires. The researcher conducted pilot testing of the
data collection instrument by administering the questionnaire to the three respondent
categories and established validity by seeking the opinion of experts in the field and
also that one of lecturers in the university. Quantitative data collected was analyzed
using percentages and mean and presented in tables. The study findings indicated that
100% of the female sex workers have experienced stigma and discrimination in their
work, 87% go through sexual violence and abuse, 60% of female sex workers lack of
proper education and training while 60% of female sex workers are driven into sex
work by poverty. The study established that female sex workers lack adequate life
skills, outreach and support, lack adequate mentorship, and lack enough information
and education leading to a positive attitude towards life skills programmes and
acceptance to help transform lives. The study recommends more information needs to
get to the female sex workers on how to be safe and stay healthy, more training on
short courses or vocational courses, more community and authority outreach and
support and more need for mentorship of life skills to help the transition from sex work
initiative and also there is need to have a well-developed life skill program for sex
workers with a clear and sustainable structure. | en_US |