| dc.description.abstract | The role of Kiswahili literature in the contemporary world cannot be underestimated.
This is because literature is a mirror to the society that portrays various issues that take
place in the wider society. Literature can be used to praise or condemn an act in the
community. This research focused on a trending issue that violates children’s rights
hence affecting children of school going age. The researcher focused on premature
relationships and teenage pregnancies as depicted in selected Kiswahili literary works,
that is; Selected short stories in Damu Nyeusi na Hadithi Nyingine (2007), Kurudi
Nyumbani na Hadithi Nyingine (2007), Alidhani Kapata na Hadithi Nyingine (2007)
and Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine (2016). This research evaluated the causes,
effects and solutions to premature relationships and teenage pregnancies among
children with reference to the selected Kiswahili literary works. The objectives of this
research were; to evaluate the causes of premature relationships and teenage
pregnancies with reference to the selected literary texts, to evaluate the effects of
premature relationships and teenage pregnancies with reference to the chosen Kiswahili
literary work and to discuss the philosophy of the writers of the selected literary works
concerning the solution to premature relationships and teenage pregnancies. This
research was guided by Reader’s Response Theory that aims at identifying and
explaining occurences that makes a reader interact with a certain literary work. The
main founders of this theory include; Wolfgang Iser (1974,1978), Stanley Fish (1980)
and James Tompkins (1980). The research data was collected through reading the
selected Kiswahili literary works and analysing it through explanations guided by the
objectives of the research. The researcher read all the selected stories and extracted
words and texts about premature relationships and teenage pregnancies. The researcher
looked at the causes of premature relationships and teenage pregnancies, effects of
premature relationships and teenage pregnancies and solutions to premature
relationships and teenage pregnancies.The findings of this research will benefit the
literary field by informing the masses on the importance of Kiswahili literature to the
society. It will as well benefit literary writers by informing them on the emerging issues
and trending issues in the society. The research will also benefit the people concerned
with children’s rights on the importance of Kiswahili literature in dealing with the issue
of premature relationships and teenage pregnancies in Kenya and the rest of the world. | en_US |
