Education is an important life process that plays a vital role in forming the foundation for a student’s future better being, as it equips learners with basic knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable him/her to cope well in life. This study examined the factors that lead to increased school dropout among high school students in Kirinyaga County, with the aim of suggesting the possible solutions thus promoting learner’s retention among high schools. The objective of the study was to determine the factors leading to increased school dropout in Kirinyaga County. This study was undertaken in response to high school dropout rates and poor academic performance among the high school students in Kirinyaga County. In this study, questionnaires were used as data collecting instruments. Questionnaires were preferred because of their ability to ensure confidentiality to responses from respondents. A visit was done to 18 high schools, which are located in Kirinyaga, which will include both day and boarding.  Questionnaires were issued randomly to ensure fairness. 18 principals and 108 teachers. The entire questionnaire was returned hence equivalent to 100%. Responses received from questionnaires was organized, tabulated and analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Data was analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings were presented using frequency tables. This study established that low socio-economic status, poor school performance, drug and substance abuse, peer pressure among others contribute to student dropout. Poverty leading to financial problems was also cited as a cause of school dropout. The study recommends that the government should take stern measures against traders who employ children to pave way for these children to go to school. Similar studies should be done in the other counties so as to find a long lasting solution to the problem.

Education is an important life process that plays a vital role in forming the foundation for a student’s future better being, as it equips learners with basic knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable him/her to cope well in life. This study examined the factors that lead to increased school dropout among high school students in Kirinyaga County, with the aim of suggesting the possible solutions thus promoting learner’s retention among high schools. The objective of the study was to determine the factors leading to increased school dropout in Kirinyaga County. This study was undertaken in response to high school dropout rates and poor academic performance among the high school students in Kirinyaga County. In this study, questionnaires were used as data collecting instruments. Questionnaires were preferred because of their ability to ensure confidentiality to responses from respondents. A visit was done to 18 high schools, which are located in Kirinyaga, which will include both day and boarding.  Questionnaires were issued randomly to ensure fairness. 18 principals and 108 teachers. The entire questionnaire was returned hence equivalent to 100%. Responses received from questionnaires was organized, tabulated and analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Data was analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings were presented using frequency tables. This study established that low socio-economic status, poor school performance, drug and substance abuse, peer pressure among others contribute to student dropout. Poverty leading to financial problems was also cited as a cause of school dropout. The study recommends that the government should take stern measures against traders who employ children to pave way for these children to go to school. Similar studies should be done in the other counties so as to find a long lasting solution to the problem. Rampant uncontrolled pregnancies are an impediment to education and progress among teenagers. I therefore conducted this research to find out the major causes of these pregnancies and what really prompts them. Although the problem of teenage pregnancies is well understood in quantitative terms, there is scanty of evidence on the qualitative aspects.It presented the conceptual framework, detailing the linkage between the depended and independed variables. Field work data collection was conducted using key informant interviews and case stories. Data analysis was undertaken using qualitative techniques such as trend analysis.To my finding, the key causes of teenage pregnancies were identified as cultural practices, poor parenting, poverty and inadequate sex and family planning education.Culture as a people’s way of life is good. However, culture at times can lag behind with certain practices becoming repugnant to wellbeing, which in this case is about the education and career development of young girls. Particular practices came out as a root cause of teenage pregnancies in Narok south constituency and these are intaleng’o or emanyata and emurata. These are celebrations in Maasai land which brings people together to late nights.Poverty as evidenced by scarcity of basic needs leads to cases of teenage pregnancies. Exchange of sex for food, clothing and even gifts has led to most of the affected young girls to become pregnant.Lack of literacy and knowledge on sexuality are associated with early and often unprotected sexual debut. Family planning education is weak across the county as reported by one health worker I interviewedThis study sought to identify the root causes of teenage pregnancies in Narok South constituency. From the analysis, it is clear that socio-cultural factors such as traditional dances and ceremonies, poor parenting and cultural changes combine with the poverty situation to generate and perpetuate the problem. Girls who fall victims of teenage pregnancies end up facing stigma and discrimination and their access to education and career development is radically reduced.                                                                                                                                                                      

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children continues to occur globally. Early and periodical diagnosis is critical particularly in Sub-Saharan Countries. Forty three percent of Kenyan infants born to HIV infected mothers die before celebrating their second birth days. Objective:  To assess the extent and factors influencing utilization of HIV diagnosis among exposed infants attending Sigowet Sub- County Hospital, Kericho County. Design: A cross-sectional study  Setting: Sigowet Sub-County Hospital, Kericho County, Kenya. Subjects/Participants: One hundred and ninety nine HIV-positive mother-baby pairs attended to at the Hospital between January and March 2019. Results: Majority 198(99.50%) of the recruited participants were mothers of which 93(46.73%) aged between 18-26 years whereby nearly all infants were exposed to HIV infection .Study showed that 76(38.19) mothers had low education level while 107(53.77%) mothers had no formal employment. Study showed that 76(38.29%) mothers had secondary level of education while 107(53.77%) reported high rate of unemployment whereas a greater proportion 194(97.49%) mothers were exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months and 104(52.26%) mothers had never heard of HIV testing of infants. Study also showed that 107(53.77%) mothers only knew they were HIV positive during pregnancy while 44(22.11%) mothers did not disclose their HIV status to their husbands. However, 199(100.0%) mothers enrolled to care whereas 192(96.48%) mothers were not attached to any social group of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Correlation test of the individuals indicated that there was a positive correlation relationship of next of kin to HEI and age of mother, Level of education , marital status and number of children mother’s had( P=0.02, P=0.04,P=0.02 and P=0.01). There was a significant correlation between age of the mother and number of children (P=0.58 and P=0.92). There was a positive correlation between Mode of infant feeding to Level of education of the mother while a positive correlation between occupation of the mother and number of children (P=0.04, P=0.02 and P=0.18). However, there was a correlation in time of the mother’s awareness to her HIV status to the time of HIV status disclosure whereas a correlation between disclosure and attachment to social group of People Living with HIV/AIDS (P=0.03, P=0.01 and P=0.02).

Background: Although knowledge of contraceptive methods among sexually active men and women is high globally and in sub-Saharan Africa, the contraceptive prevalence rate among newly married Women aged 15-49 years in Kenya is estimated at 39%, compared to 14% in Shankoe sub-Location in Trans Mara West sub-County, Narok County.

Objective: To assess the factors influencing utilization of family planning methods in Shankoe Sub-Location, Trans Mara West Sub-County, Narok County.

Design: Community-based cross- sectional study.

Study Setting: Three villages of Shankoe Sub-Location namely Olempogit, Emorogi and Enayenyieny Subjects / Participants: Three hundred and sixty respondents (149 males and 211 females) aged 15 years and above in Shankoe Sub-Location, Trans Mara West Sub-County, Narok County.

Results: Those respondents aged 25-35 years in reference to > 50 years were more likely to use family planning methods (OR =0.97, 95% CI [0.43-2.20] p=0.002) than those participants who had ≥ 50 years of age (OR =0.33, 95% CI [0.10-1.03] p=0.057) who were less likely to use family planning methods. Respondents aged 25-35 years had secondary education and understood  more on family planning methods than age bracket ≥ 50 years whose members had not gone to school (OR =1, 95% CI [0.19-5.20] p=0.001) compared to participants with no education (OR =0.19, 95% CI [0.03-1.34] p=0.098).