Analysis of Predictors of Behaviour Change among Children at Risk in Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres in Nairobi County, Kenya
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Date
2016
Authors
Rintaugu, James Muthomi
Muthee, Jessina
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Institute of Science, Technology and Education
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyse predictors of behaviour change among children at risk in juvenile
rehabilitation centres within Nairobi County, Kenya. The target population was all the children and managers of
Juvenile rehabilitation Centres in Nairobi County. This consisted of 380 boys, 160 girls, 8 managers in Kabete
and Getathuru and 4 managers in Dagorreti rehabilitation Centre, all adding up to 552 respondents. Children at
risk in Juvenile rehabilitation Centres within Nairobi County were sampled using probability and non-probability
sampling techniques. To obtain a manageable sample from the target population, convenience, purposive,
stratified random and systematic random sampling techniques were used respectively. Questionnaires, interview
schedules and focus groups were used in the study as tools for data collection. Data collected was entered, coded
and analyzed using inferential statistics and SPSS. The qualitative data was organized, analyzed and reported
into emerging themes. The study found out that rehabilitation of children at risk in Juvenile rehabilitation
Centres was not adequately addressed and it was only those children with severe and profound cases whose
misbehaviours transformed to moderate levels. Educationists were left out during assessment, classification,
referral and exit stages despite their rich expertise in rehabilitation. The analysis of determinants scored below
average in terms of behaviour change. Among the predictors, Special needs intervention measures did not exist
irrespective of the fact that more than ninety percent of children had special cases. Environment was not barrier
free while majority of the staff were untrained in professional courses regarding behaviour change. The
researcher recommended that all the staff of Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres to undergo training in Special Needs
Education. That all the Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres be moved from Ministry of Labour and Social Services
and be placed under the Ministry of Education which has adequate personnel required to rehabilitate a child.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Behaviour, Children at risk, Juvenile, Rehabilitation, Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres, Delinquency and Predictor
Citation
Journal of Education and Practice Vol.7, No.30, 2016