Leaders’ and Women’s Perception of the Influence of Culture and Social Factors on Forced Marriages of Adolescent Girls in Kajiado West Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The goal of the study was to examine the Leaders’ and women’s perception of the influence of culture and social factors on forced marriages of adolescent girls well-being and propose detailed strategies to reduce the number of girls married before the age of 18 so that they can achieve the highest level of professional development possible in Kenya's Kajiado West sub-county. The study specifically sought to assess the influence of culture and social factors in forced marriages on the well-being of adolescent girl. This study will benefit the Government in purposes on legislation policies in cultural and social factors in forced marriages on the well-being of the adolescent girl, secondly assists stakeholders and investors in decision-making in the well-being of the adolescent girl, and finally assists local administrators, scholars, and academicians as a source of reference in cultural and social factors in forced marriages on well-being of the adolescent girl. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design. The target population was all women who were married below the age of 18 who had challenges on their well-being. The target population comprised of 686,992 adolescent people in Kajiado County. The sample size was 434 obtained by purposive sampling from the target population. Out of the sample size of 399, the responses received were 305 while from 35 administrators 23 responses were received translating into 328 which is 76% response rate. Data collection instrument was questionnaires. The data was analyzed using inferential statistics. Regression was used to test whether culture and social factors in forced marriages have influence on the well-being of an adolescent girl. It was established that the leader's and women’s perception of influence of forced marriage was a significant positive predictor of the well-being of an adolescent girl. The findings are expected to be of value to the community, parents and leaders and form a basis to deal with forced marriages for the well-being of adolescent. Keywords: Leaders & Women’s Perception, Cultural & Social Factors, Forced Marriage & Well-Being of Adolescent Girl.