The Role of the Father Figure in the Socio-Emotional Development of the Boy and Girl Child: A Study of Two Churches in Dagoretti Village, Nairobi County

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to study the role of the father figure in the socio-emotional development of the boy and girl child in Dagoretti village. Its objectives were to find out the relationship between the absent father-figure and delinquent behavior among boys and girls, to determine the role of the father figure in relation to strained opposite sex relationships, to find out the prevalence of the multigenerational single parenting in Dagoretti Village, and to establish the role of the father figure in the social and emotional development of the boy and girl child. Descriptive research design was used and the target population was 520 members of St. Vincent Catholic Church and the Deliverance Church in Dagoretti Village. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 105 respondents. The Questionnaire, focus group discussions, and interviews were used in data collection, and data analysis was done using SPSS software version 16 and Microsoft office excel 2007. Findings of the study revealed that delinquency was high at 53.3% among children raised by single mothers in Dagoretti, opposite sex relationship among children raised by single mothers was affected by the absent father, and a large number of single mothers at 54% believed that single parenting was multi-generational. The study concluded that there was a very high percentage of delinquency among children raised by single mothers in Dagoretti Village and that there was a strain in opposite sex relationship. The study recommended that regulations should be put in place by the owners of the slaughter house and community to make it difficult for young children easily getting employed without any kind of certificate and that the government should take action to provide meaningful livelihood activities for the young children who engage in promiscuous behaviors and indulging in drinking. Bars should be regulated and not be allowed to sell alcohol to minors.