Abstract:
This study is concerned with economic challenges facing single mothers while raising their children in Maasai Mara University. The objective of the study is to find out the economic challenges single mothers face while raising their children.
Descriptive research design was used in this study. The study was carried out in Maasai Mara University, Narok County. The university has over 10,000 students. Most of these student reside from outside the university. However, during the study two groups were not in session. The study was carried out among students residing in the university hostels. The female students were 1073 and male students were 1315, from this accessible population the sample size was composed of 120 students. Random sampling was used to select students whereby the 120 students were randomly picked from 60 rooms in the four hostels: Mara, Loita, Serengeti and Suswa. A questionnaire was used to get information from the student respondents. The questionnaires were self-administered to ensure confidentiality.
The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The representation was done through frequencies, percentages, pie charts and bar graphs. The findings of the study revealed that a number of students are single mothers and others are raised by single mothers. A number of factors that contribute to single motherhood are unfaithfulness leading to separation, death of the husband and some women like to live a single life.
The study recommends that the university should introduce a program where they a have school social worker beside a counselor who they will work hand in hand in helping students from single families and all help girls not to fall into irresponsible men while still in campus. This would enrich them with knowledge of having children while still studying. Hence single motherhood will reduce.
