Socio-Economic Challenges Faced By Single-Parent Households In Narok North Constituency: A Case Of Majengo Area

Abstract

Single parent families are currently on the rise as compared to the previous years. However, there is a concern as single parenthood has not yet been embraced by the modern society and there is need for further light on single parenthood and all what it entails. The purpose of this study was to investigate socio economic factors affecting single parent households in Majengo, Narok County. The objectives of the study were to establish the extent to which financial challenges faced by single-parent, effect of single-parenting on the socialization process of children, how single-parenting affect academic performance of the children and to evaluate the effect of self-esteem issues faced by single-parent household members in Majengo. A descriptive research design was adopted for this in this study. The target population of this study comprised of the estimated 1000 households in Majengo slum headed by single parents in Narok County. The researcher took 10% (100 respondents) of the target population as the sample size. The study used non-probability sampling methods where snow balling was found most appropriate because of the nature of the research. The researcher used questionnaires as the data collection instrument. Reliability and validity of the research instrument was done by a pilot study. Validity of the research instruments to be used in this study was enhanced through the application of content validity procedures, while reliability of the Research instrument was obtained from the pre-tested questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics where measures of dispersion (standard deviation) and measures of central tendency (mean, frequency and percentages) were used. The results of the study indicated that the single parent families are influenced to a great extent by the financial challenges which seem to have a replicable effect on other aspects of the family such as education. The study also established that the socialization of children is not necessarily influenced by the single parenthood family. Similarly, the study established that education attainability of the children from single parents might be poor but it cannot be as a result of the single parenthood. It was also established that the children’s self-esteem might not be really because they come from single parent families but it might be as a result of their factor not discussed. The study concluded that single parent families are mainly faced by financial challenges and that the socialization of the children, their educational attainment and their self-esteem might not be attributed to the single parenthood.