EFFECT OF PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ON MANAGEMENT OF ADOLESCENTS RISKY BEHAVIOUR IN THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of psychosocial interventions on management of adolescents’ risky behaviour in therapeutic communities in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. In the light of concern that there has been a rise of alcohol and bhang use in Uasin Gishu County, The study was guided by seven objectives, namely To find out Psychosocial interventions applied in Therapeutic Communities ,to assess the extent to which adolescents’ risky behaviour has been managed in Therapeutic communities, to determine the relationship between counselling intervention and management of adolescent’s risky behaviour in Therapeutic Communities, to assess the extent to which recreational activities managed adolescent’s risky behaviour in Therapeutic Communities, to establish the relationship between provision of physical care and management of adolescent’s risky behaviour, to examine the relationship between family support and management of adolescent risky behaviour in Uasin Gishu County, to establish the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and adolescent’s risky behaviour management in Therapeutic Communities in Uasin Gishu County. The following six hypotheses were tested in the study: H01: There is no relationship between counselling interventions and management of adolescents’ risky behaviour in therapeutic communities; H02: There is no relationship between recreational activities and adolescents’ risky behaviour management in therapeutic communities; H03: There is no relationship between provision of care and adolescents’ risky behaviour management in therapeutic communities; H04: There is no relationship between family support and management of risky behaviour among adolescents in therapeutic communities; H05: There is no significant relationship between gender and adolescents’ risky behaviour management in therapeutic communities, and H06: There is no significant relationship between academic level and adolescents’ risky behaviour management in therapeutic communities in Uasin Gishu. The study was guided by Reality theory. A sequential embedded mixed methods research design was used. The quantitative part used ex post facto design and qualitative strand was phenomenological. The target population comprised all adolescents, counsellors, trainers and recoverees in therapeutic communities located in Uasin Gishu. Out of the six (6) therapeutic communities in Uasin Gishu, four were purposively selected to take part in the study. Purposive sampling was used to select counsellors, recoverees and trainers who, at the time of study, work as facilitators helping recovering clients in therapeutic communities. From each therapeutic community a representative sample was selected. As such, 80 adolescents, 12 counsellors, 8 recoverees, and 10 sports trainers were sampled. Data was collected using a questionnaire for adolescents, interview guide for counsellors, recoverees and trainers, and document analysis guide. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analysed thematically using themes derived from the research questions. Descriptive statistics; psychosocial intervention Mean=3.5&S.Dev.1.37 and risky behaviour management mean=3.55 & S.Dev=1.39. Analysis of Variance was employed to test the research hypotheses. The study established that counselling, F(16,63)=2.132;p=0.017, recreational activities, F(10,69)=2.2207, p=0.027, provision of care, F(12,67)=4.400, p=0.000, family support, F(9,70)=3.529, p=0.001, academic level, F(2,76)=3.795, p=0.027, and gender, (t(78)=.446, p=.002), had an effect on management of adolescents’ risky behaviour. In conclusion psychosocial interventions applied in therapeutic communities in Uasin Gishu County were effective in management of adolescents’ risky behaviour. Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, it was recommended that there is need to incorporate psychosocial interventions, into the management of adolescents’ risky behaviour. These interventions have shown significant effectiveness in helping adolescents to avoid or desist from risky behaviours in therapeutic communities. Family members should also be involved in counselling to understand their role in preventing misconduct and relapse.