Availability of Facilities and Its Influence on Re-Entry of Teenage Mothers in Public Secondary Schools in Kajiado West Sub-County, Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy continues to hamper girls' education in Kenya, with cultural factors in Kajiado County, including early marriages, poverty, and limited access to reproductive health information, driving high incidence rates. This study examined the influence of school facility availability on re-entry of teenage mothers into public secondary schools in Kajiado West Sub-County, Kajiado County, Kenya. Anchored in Resilience Theory, the study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population comprised 17 principals, 88 teachers, 88 students (teenage mothers), and 4 Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs) drawn from 17 public secondary schools. Using purposive, stratified, and simple random sampling, 157 participants were selected. Data were collected through questionnaires, focus group discussions, and interview schedules, and analysed using SPSS version 26. Quantitative findings were presented in frequency tables and figures, while qualitative data were thematically analysed. Results revealed that the majority of schools lacked adequate sanitary facilities, designated breastfeeding or childcare spaces, and school health services, with mean scores for these items falling below 3.00 on a five-point Likert scale. Although some schools provided classrooms and general learning materials, these were rarely designed to meet the particular needs of teenage mothers. The study concludes that infrastructural inadequacy is a significant barrier to re-entry and retention of teenage mothers. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education provide dedicated funding for child-friendly facilities, including daycare centres, private restrooms, and breastfeeding rooms, in public secondary schools