2.3 Study Limitations and Challenges

Kwale 8) Meru 9) Narok 10) Siaya. A mixed methods approach was undertaken. A total of 394 adolescent girls aged 13-19 years were sampled from the ten targeted counties. Of these 377 were interviewed successfully (96%). The main reason for non-response was parent/guardian refusal. Information on key demographic indicators, sexual behavior, asset ownership, contraceptive use, causes and consequences of adolescent pregnancy, community practices that encourage adolescent pregnancy, knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of adolescent pregnancy and strategies that can be employed to reduce adolescent pregnancy was collected using a standard survey tool.

Qualitative data was collected to provide a more in-depth understanding of the causes and consequences of adolescent pregnancy and strategies to reduce teenage pregnancy. About 2-5 Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with adolescent girls aged 13-19 years in each of the targeted counties. A total of 38 FGDs were conducted. Each FGD had between 8-12 adolescent girls participating. A total of 97 Key Informant Interviews were conducted with gender, education and birth registration officers, school heads, sub-county administrators and chiefs/village heads at the county level.

Quantitative data analysis was conducted on key Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health indicators and custom indicators informed by the local operating context in Kenya were developed to inform the analysis. Qualitative interviews were transcribed and coded for emerging themes using Nvivo software. Output of relevant codes were used for analysis and write up of the report.

Key findings

Demographic and Household characteristics

A total of 377 adolescent girls aged 13-19 year were interviewed. 45% of the participants were between 13-15, 31% were 16-17 and 24% were 18-19 years old. Majority of participants (46%) were residing in urban areas. About 60% were living with both parents while 24% were living with one parent. Those who did not live with their parent(s) lived with another adult relative (9%), other adult non-relative (3%) or partner (4%). Capturing parental presence in the lives of adolescents is important, as living with a parent affects young people’s behavior such as initiation of sexual intercourse, and the antecedent consequences, such as unintended pregnancy.

Education

Based on the assessment, about 89% of the adolescents reported that they were still attending school. 51% of the respondents had at least attained some secondary school education. About 2% had no education. Several of the respondents’ parents (fathers 22%, mothers 13%) have not attained formal education. Parental educational attainment is critical in determining children’s educational attainment, especially years of schooling.

Sexual Behavior, Contraceptive Use and Childbearing

Sexual activity pre-disposes teenagers to risks such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. About 34% of adolescents were sexually experienced. Older adolescents were more likely to have engaged in sexual intercourse than younger adolescents (13-15 years). The Findings also showed that adolescents who were still in school were less likely to have engaged in sex than their counterparts who were not in school. 15% of the respondents have never used contraceptives. Condoms (34%), oral contraceptives (22%) and injectable (20%) were the most used contraceptives by the adolescents. A significant relationship exists between contraceptive use, age, sibling teenage pregnancy, ever given birth, who the adolescent lives with and if they have a boyfriend.

Marriage and childbearing rates were low. About 6% (21) of the respondents reported ever being married and 10% (39) had ever given birth. The rate of adolescent pregnancy was slightly higher in Kisii with 2% of the respondents reporting ever giving birth. Early marriage was slightly higher in Siaya with 2% of girls having ever been married.

Factors contributing to teenage Pregnancy

Among the main factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy was lack of sexual education. 45% of the adolescents reported that the sex education received at school is not adequate. The findings also demonstrated that 41% of the respondents believe that cultural taboos inhibit discussion on sexuality and sex education. Almost (42%) of the adolescents interviewed cited parents were to blame for adolescent pregnancy. About 45% of the respondents acknowledge that community practices encourage adolescent pregnancies. Some of the cultural practices cited include the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, Early Marriage, and ‘Moranism’ including cultural ceremonies like “Disco Matanga”. More than half of the respondents (67%) stated that lack of alternative sources of livelihoods contribute to adolescent pregnancy while (20%) of the adolescents attributed poverty to be a leading contributor to adolescent pregnancy. Other factors mentioned included peer pressure, drug abuse and sexual violence.

Risks and consequences of teenage Pregnancy

Some of the main risks and consequences of teenage pregnancy as highlighted by the respondents included school dropout, poverty, early marriage, HIV/AIDS and STIs, abortion, death and related childbirth complications.