Examining The Influence of the Funzo Programme Communication Strategies on Teenage Mothers’ Perceptions of Maternal Health in Kibra

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy remains a persistent public health challenge in Kenya, particularly in informal settlements such as Kibra, where access to maternal health information and services is limited. The Funzo Programme, a community-based initiative, employs communication strategies to improve reproductive and maternal health outcomes among teenage mothers. This study examined the influence of Funzo’s communication strategies on teenage mothers’ perceptions of maternal health in Kibra. Guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM), which explains how perceptions of susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers shape health behaviour. The study’s objectives were: to assess the relationship between exposure to the Funzo programme communication strategies and teenage mothers’ awareness and understanding of maternal health services in Kibra;to examine how Funzo’s communication strategies influenced teenage mothers’ perceived susceptibility to maternal health risks; to determine the extent to which the Funzo’s communication strategies shaped teenage mothers’ perceived benefits of seeking maternal healthcare services and to identify the key communication-related barriers within the Funzo intervention that hindered teenage mothers’ health-seeking behaviour in Kibra. The study adopted a convergent mixed methods design and used both simple random sampling and purposive sampling. The target population comprised teenage mothers in Kibra and the sample size comprised of 75 teenage mothers, 2 CFK staff and 2 Community Health Workers with data collected through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics with the aid of SPSS version 22, while qualitative data was analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti. The findings revealed that Funzo’s communication strategies significantly enhanced awareness of maternal health services, with interpersonal and community-based approaches proving most effective. Teenage mothers reported an increased perception of susceptibility to maternal health risks and recognized the benefits of attending clinics and delivering in health facilities. However, challenges such as limited comprehension, cultural stigma, and low access to digital information persisted, constraining consistent health-seeking behaviour. The study concludes that Funzo’s participatory communication strategies positively influenced teenage mothers’ perceptions of maternal health, but that behavioural change remains moderated by social and structural barriers. It recommends strengthening comprehension-based communication, integrating digital and multimedia platforms, and promoting culturally sensitive approaches to improve adolescent maternal health outcomes in informal settlements like Kibra.