Wafubwa Ruth Nanjekho, Soler-Hampejsek Erica, Muluve Eva, Osuka Daniel, Austrian Karen
Population Council-Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.
Independent Consultant, Barcelona, Spain.
PLoS One. 2024 Dec 12;19(12):e0315497. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315497. eCollection 2024.
This mixed methods study investigated factors associated with school retention among marginalized adolescents in four different settings in Kenya, following COVID-19 school closures. Logistic regressions were used to examine factors associated with school retention in 2022 among 1798 adolescent students aged 10-19 in 2020. Qualitative data from 89 in-depth interviews (64 adolescents aged 11-19 and 25 parents), and 21 key informants were thematically analysed. Among female adolescents, age (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.87) and internet access (aOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.87) were negatively associated with school retention. Engaging in income-generating activities was similarly linked to reduced school retention (aOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.46). For male adolescents, household loss of income (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.76) and engaging in income-generating activities (aOR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.19) were associated with lower school retention. The qualitative findings highlighted the gendered nature of barriers to school retention. Specifically, pregnancy, child marriage, and related childcare responsibilities emerged as important constraints for girls, whereas engaging in income-generating activities and drug and alcohol use were more dominant factors for boys. Across both genders, financial constraints were a key barrier to school retention. This study underscores the multifaceted nature of factors influencing school retention among marginalized adolescents in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings provide useful information for designing targeted policies and programmes for adolescent school retention in times of crisis.
这项混合方法研究调查了新冠疫情导致学校关闭后，肯尼亚四个不同地区边缘化青少年的留校相关因素。采用逻辑回归分析2020年1798名10至19岁青少年学生在2022年的留校相关因素。对来自89次深入访谈（64名11至19岁青少年和25名家长）以及21名关键 informant 的定性数据进行了主题分析。在女性青少年中，年龄（调整后比值比[aOR]=0.76，95%置信区间[CI]：0.67，0.87）和网络接入（aOR = 0.55，95% CI：0.35，0.87）与留校呈负相关。从事创收活动同样与留校率降低有关（aOR = 0.27，95% CI：0.16，0.46）。对于男性青少年，家庭收入损失（aOR = 0.40，95% CI：0.21，0.76）和从事创收活动（aOR = 0.07，95% CI：0.02，0.19）与较低的留校率有关。定性研究结果突出了留校障碍的性别差异。具体而言，怀孕、童婚及相关育儿责任是女孩面临的重要限制因素，而从事创收活动以及吸毒和酗酒是男孩面临的更主要因素。在两性中，经济限制都是留校的关键障碍。本研究强调了在新冠疫情等危机时期，影响边缘化青少年留校因素的多面性。研究结果为危机时期制定针对性的青少年留校政策和项目提供了有用信息。
