3.4 Risks and Consequences of adolescent Pregnancy

Figure 3: Maternal Education Attainment

Figure 4: Parental educational attainment

Parental educational attainment is critical in determining children’s educational attainment, especially years of schooling. Similarly, parental socioeconomic status (SES) may not only impact the health of the parent themselves but also the health outcomes of their children. This association is partly explained by the fact that educated parents tend to have better health knowledge and are more likely to practice better health behaviors. Studies in Kenya have established that 33% of the girls aged 15-19 years that get pregnant have no education,19% with incomplete primary education while 36% have incomplete secondary education.

This implies that with limited access to education, the burden of adolescent pregnancy in Kenya might not reduce as expected. Kenya has created an enabling environment in education through ratifying most international treaties that protect the right to education, which form part of the country’s laws. The Constitution of Kenya, in Article 53 (1) (b) state that every child has a right to free and compulsory basic education and Article 55 (a) the State shall take measures, including affirmative action programs, to ensure that the youth access relevant education and training. To give effect to the Constitution, the Basic Education Act (No 14 of 2013) has been passed into law to regulate the provision of basic education and adult education in the country. The Children’s Act also acknowledges and protects every child’s right to education. This set measures have enabled over the past few decades an increase in school enrollment, transition to secondary school and improved school completion rates. Yet, with all these policies in place, enforcement of the laws and policies is still wanting. Kenya has also ratified guidelines for reentry policy in case of teenage pregnancy which provides clear guidelines to be followed to ensure teenagers access to education in case of pregnancy.

3.1.3 Parental Employment

Several studies have indicated that the Socioeconomic status (SES) of parents impacts the health outcomes of their children. This association is partly explained by the fact that educated parents tend to have better health knowledge and are more likely to practice better health behaviors. The findings indicate that about 17% of the mothers were employed and 48% were self- employed. About 22% of the fathers were unemployed while 59% of them were either self- employed or employed. Majority of both fathers and mothers who reported being selfemployed were mainly businessmen/women and farmers.