School guidance and counseling programs: examining its relationship with teenage pregnancy in public secondary schools in Kenya

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy remains a persistent global crisis that profoundly affects the socio-economic wellbeing of nations, citizens and families. It contributes to school dropout rates, lower academic achievements, early marriages, and decreased school attendance for female learners. This study examined the relationship between school guidance and counseling programs and teenage pregnancy in public secondary schools in Machakos County, Kenya. The article is an extract study of a study conducted in Machakos County and anchored on social learning theory postulated by Albert Bandura. The research utilized a descriptive research design and a target population of 360 principals, 360 Heads of Department (HoDs) Guidance and Counseling (G&C), 360 Parent Association (PA) chairpersons and, 103,517 students. Data was collected using questionnaires for principals and HoDs G&C, interview schedules for PA chairpersons, Focused Group Discussions (FGD) for students and document analysis. The Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25. Descriptive analysis were done using frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion particularly the mean and standard deviation. Hypothesis testing was done using Pearson’s’ Correlation Coefficient at the .05 level of significance. The findings from the research showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between school guidance and counseling programs and teenage pregnancy (rp =.361 & rh = 0.497; p≤ .01). The study concluded that with a strong guidance and counselling framework in public secondary schools, cases of teenage pregnancy would substantially reduce or be eliminated. The study recommended, among others that schools principal’s should ensure that Guidance and Counselling teachers receive regular capacity building trainings to update them on current trends in learner developmental behaviors.