Freire’s Conception of Critical Consciousness on Mitigating Teenage Pregnancy

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XII, December 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Freire’s Conception of Critical Consciousness on Mitigating Teenage Pregnancy

John Kibwage Nyangaresi
Department of Educational Foundations, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P. O. BOX 190-50100, Kakamega, Kenya

Abstract: The role of critical consciousness is to impart proactive skills paramount for mitigating teenage pregnancy. The article is anchored on a philosophical approach which puts more emphasis on rational being, based on logical reasoning or rational reasoning and abstract approach at the expense of empirical perspective and standpoints. This article therefore examines the need of Freire’s conception of critical consciousness on mitigating teenage pregnancy in schools. The article appeals to the implications of Paulo Freire’s components of critical reflection, political efficacy and critical action in addressing the issue of teenage pregnancy. The article used critical Method of Philosophical consultancy. The study clearly stands out that if teenage pregnancy is to be addressed effectively, then educators must integrate Freire’s critical consciousness and its pillars systematically in the curriculum. Also, the article filtrates out the key stakeholders who can collectively work together to address the issue of teenage pregnancy at large.

Keywords: critical consciousness; teenage pregnancy; critical reflection, political efficacy and critical action.

I. INTRODUCTION

Kenya is among the countries in Sub-Sahara Africa affected with the burden of teenage pregnancy (WHO, 2020). It is estimated that approximately 3000 girls drop out of school annually in Kenya due to teenage pregnancy (Kiptanui etal.,2015). According United Nations Population Fund Report on global reproductive health, about 378, 397 teenage pregnancies cases among girls who are aged 10-19 years between the month July 2016 to the month of June 2017 were recorded in Kenya (UNFPA, 2018). A number of factors are speculated to be the reasons behind the high cases of teenage pregnancy in Kenya some being the poverty index and literacy levels as well as the cultural practices (Kirchengast, 2016). For instance, in the western and coastal part of Kenya, cultural practices such as night discos and funeral attendance have been found to increase the susceptibility of teenage girls to premature sexual debut and teenage pregnancy (KNBS, 2014).
The outbreak of corona virus pandemic COVID-19 which lead to prolonged closure of schools worsen the situation as the cases of Teenage pregnancy with African Institute for Development policy (AFIDEP) in comparison with Kenya Health Information Systems (KHIS) statistics showing that cases of teenage pregnancy increased by approximately 41% (153000) cases between March to June 2020 (AFIDEP, 2020).

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