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Family Structure and Child Educational Attainment in the Slums of Nairobi, Kenya

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  • Benta A. Abuya
  • Maurice Mutisya
  • Elijah O. Onsomu
  • Moses Ngware
  • Moses Oketch

Abstract

Research shows that children living with two biological parents outperform those raised in other family structures. A growing number of children do not live with two biological parents in sub-Saharan Africa, but few studies have examined the consequences. In this article, data from the African Population and Health Research Center collected in the slums of Nairobi are fitted to a logistic regression model to test the hypothesis that two-parent families are most favorable to schooling outcomes in Kenya. After controlling for socioeconomic variables, the effect of family structure on educational attainment of children persists. Children in two-parent households were 40% (unadjusted odds ratio [UOR] = 1.40, p = .01) and 16% (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.16, p = .1) more likely to be in the right age for grade compared with children in one-parent households. The study calls for strengthening single-parent households to achieve better educational outcomes for the children.

Suggested Citation

  • Benta A. Abuya & Maurice Mutisya & Elijah O. Onsomu & Moses Ngware & Moses Oketch, 2019. "Family Structure and Child Educational Attainment in the Slums of Nairobi, Kenya," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:9:y:2019:i:2:p:2158244019855849
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244019855849
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Mikyla A. Callaghan & Dédé Watchiba & Eva Purkey & Colleen M. Davison & Heather M. Aldersey & Susan A. Bartels, 2021. "“I Don’t Know Where I Have to Knock for Support”: A Mixed-Methods Study on Perceptions and Experiences of Single Mothers Raising Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-25, October.
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    4. Rshood Al-Khraif & Asharaf Abdul Salam & Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rashid, 2020. "Family Demographic Transition in Saudi Arabia: Emerging Issues and Concerns," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440209, March.

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