| Abstract
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The main purpose of this research was to examine and describe the factors and attitudes that influenced sports participation among adolescent girls in Kenya. The research questionnaire was surveyed among adolescent girls 12-16 years (N=3942) in ten tribes residing in ten Districts within seven of the eight of Kenya's provinces. The tribes whose adolescent girls were surveyed were Kikuyu (n=393), Mijikenda (n=375), Kamba (n=389), Meru (n=379), Muslim (n=380), Luo (n=398), Kisii (n=393), Kalenjin (n=431), Maasai (n=343), and Luhya (n=461). The adolescent girls cut across the age bracket with 12 years (n=695), 13 years (n=938), 14 years (n=1008), 15 years (n=764), and 16 years (n=532). The girls were distributed across primary school (n=3073), and secondary school (n=869). The survey consisted of six subscales with a total of 56 items that were being measured. The subscales consisted of attitude towards child birth (ACB), attitude towards social status (ASS), attitude towards participation in sports (APS), attitude towards early marriage (AEM), attitude towards circumcision of girls (ACG), and attitude towards social status and sports participation as held by the community, parents, and peers (ASSPS). Results . The research findings observed statistically significant differences in mean scores on attitude towards child birth among adolescent girls 12-16 years by tribe (Kikuyu, Mijikenda, Kamba, Meru, Muslim, Luo, Kisii, Kalenjin, Maasai, and Luhya) p=0.003. Post hoc results established multiple groups of tribes with homogeneity of responses in specific subscales. Similarly, statistically significant differences were observed on attitude towards social status (p=0.007), attitude towards early marriage (p=0.000), attitude towards circumcision of girls (p=0.039), and attitude towards social status and sports participation as held by community, parents and peers (p=0.002). The research findings also on these attitudes observed statistical significant differences across all age categories 12 years, 13 years, 14 year, 15 years, and 16 years. The research findings however failed to observe statistical significant differences in mean scores among adolescent girls 12-16 years on attitude towards sports participation by tribe (Kikuyu, Mijikenda, Kamba, Meru, Muslim, Luo, Kisii, Kalenjin, Maasai, and Luhya) p=0.67. The research findings on this attitude nevertheless recorded statistical significant differences on this attitude across all age categories 12 years, 13 years, 14 years, 15 years, and 16 years. Further research to establish the actual impact and effect of these attitudes on sports participation by the adolescent girls, who eventually mature to represent Kenya in major international competitions, is recommended.
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