INFLUENCE OF HEADTEACHERS’ INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS ON TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KITUI CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY, KITUI COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: To examine the influence of head teachers’ involvement of parents on teenage pregnancy in public primary schools in Kitui Central Sub-county, Kitui County, Kenya.
Methodology: The study employed a mixed-method approach with concurrent triangulation, targeting 1,182 respondents, with a sample of 284 determined via Yamane’s formula. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data.
Findings: The study found that many public primary schools in Kitui Central Sub-county have had most of their pupils fall victims of teenage pregnancy for the last five years (2019-2023). To mitigate these challenges, public primary schools have adopted strategies of involving parents to help mitigate the same challenges. Parents’ involvement includes serving as role models, providing sanitary products for girls, and delivering life skills education to their children. However, the level of participation varies across different public primary schools.
Recommendations: Head teachers, with support from the Ministry of Education, should foster open communication and develop programs to educate parents on preventing teenage pregnancy and its impacts.
Keywords: Teenage pregnancy, head teachers’ involvement of parents, public primary schools
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