Poverty, childcare responsibilities, and stigma hinder adolescent mothers from returning to school in a low-income urban informal settlement in Kenya

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307532
• Publication Date: 2024-07-22T17:33:06Z
• Authors: Sheila Mukabana; Benta Abuya; Caroline W. Kabiru; Anthony Idowu Ajayi
• Keywords: Stigma; Thematic Analysis

Background While a few studies have examined barriers to school re-entry among adolescent mothers, focusing on the experiences of girls in low-income informal settlements are scarce. We factors that hindered parenting living resource-constrained urban setting from re-enrolling school. Study conducted study Korogocho, settlement Nairobi, Kenya. Methods Barriers were documented through inductive thematic analysis 32 in-depth interviews with pregnant and aged 15 19 years (N = 22), parents/guardians 10), 10 key informant teachers 4), community leaders 6). Results Interviewed blamed their being out childcare responsibilities, poverty, stigmatizing discriminatory attitudes students teachers, withdrawal parental support. parents, agreed poverty lack support returning school, they contended robust systems encompassing financial support, less hostile environments constituted facilitators adolescents. Conclusion 2020 National Guidelines for School Re-entry Kenya seek deter exclusion mothers education thereby ensuring retention, transition completion at all basic levels, findings underscore need programs ensure adolescents requisite financial, material, facilitate retention or re-enrollment line Guidelines. administrators Ministry Education should develop implement interventions make environment girls.