https://gprjournals.org/journals/index.php/ajgds <p><strong>American Journal of Gender and Development Studies</strong> (AJGDS) is an international, low cost, and peer reviewed journal that is published by GPR Journals to address contemporary issues surrounding gender roles, equality and development. The scope of AJGDS include, but not limited to Feminism &amp; Masculinity, Gender &amp; Economy, Gender &amp; Education, Gender &amp; Health, Gender &amp; Politics, Gender &amp; Workplace, Gender Equality &amp; Equity, Gender Theories &amp; Practices, Gender Based Violence, Human Empowerment, Human Potentials, Migration, Sex Trafficking, etc. The main agenda of AJGDS is to accelerate knowledge sharing among readers, researchers, policy makers, and practitioners on gender development initiatives and lessons identified across the world. Manuscripts submitted to this journal are published online and can be printed as hard copies upon author’s request. Papers can be submitted via email to <a href="mailto:journals@gprjournals.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">journals@gprjournals.org</a> or <a href="https://gprjournals.org/online-submission/">online submission.</a></p> Global Peer Reviewed Journals en-US American Journal of Gender and Development Studies 2958-5260 <p><em>The authors retain the copyright and grant this journal right of first publication. This license allows other people to freely share and adapt the work but must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. They may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses them or their use.</em></p> https://gprjournals.org/journals/index.php/ajgds/article/view/392 <p><strong>Aim:</strong> Unintended pregnancies resulting from rape present complex psychological and social challenges for affected mothers. This study aimed to explore the socio-cognitive factors influencing mothers’ acceptance or rejection of children conceived through rape.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>The cognitive social theory of Bandura is used in this study to highlight the role of environment, behaviour and person in relationship management with children born of rape. This qualitative study employed in-depth interviews with mothers who conceived after rape. Thematic analysis is used to analyze the content of our participants’ narratives.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>Thematic analysis revealed that most participants reported difficulty developing affection for children born of rape and faced familial rejection. However, those who received emotional support from family were more likely to tolerate and bond with the children.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings indicate the importance of familial and societal support in shaping maternal acceptance of children conceived through rape.</p> <p><strong>Recommendations: </strong>The study recommends integrating psychological counseling and family-centered interventions to support mothers and improve child-mother relationships.</p> Alice Mankaa Ngwa Copyright (c) 2025 Ngwa Alice Mankaa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2025-08-05 2025-08-05 4 1 1 10 10.58425/ajgds.v4i1.392 https://gprjournals.org/journals/index.php/ajgds/article/view/411 <p style="text-align: justify; margin: 6.0pt 0in 6.0pt 0in;"><strong>Aim: </strong>Sustainability of rural water infrastructure in fragile contexts hinges not only on technical design but also on household-level socio-economic dynamics and participatory governance. This study aimed to examine how perceived community participation moderates the relationship between household socio-economic characteristics and sustainability outcomes in the Muhuru Community Water Project, located in Migori County, Kenya.</p> <p style="text-align: justify; margin: 6.0pt 0in 6.0pt 0in;"><strong>Methods:</strong> Employing a descriptive survey and mixed-methods design, the research sampled 354 households across eight villages using stratified random sampling, complemented by purposive selection of 25 key informants and 45 focus group participants. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions, with tools validated via expert review and pilot testing. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and logistic regression models, while qualitative data were thematically analysed to provide contextual insights. Qualitative data were thematically analysed to enrich interpretation.</p> <p style="text-align: justify; margin: 6.0pt 0in 6.0pt 0in;"><strong>Results: </strong>Key findings revealed that household education (OR = 1.24, p &lt; 0.001) and income (OR = 6.493, p &lt; 0.05) significantly predicted sustainability outcomes, while perceived importance of participation (OR = 3.16, p &lt; 0.001) and community collaboration (OR = 1.91, p &lt; 0.011) emerged as critical moderating factors. Management effectiveness was the strongest determinant (OR = 65.25, p &lt; 0.001), while general participation and external support showed limited statistical significance.</p> <p style="text-align: justify; margin: 6.0pt 0in 6.0pt 0in;"><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study concludes that sustainability is primarily shaped by household agency, socio-economic capacity, and trust in governance rather than infrastructure alone.</p> <p style="text-align: justify; margin: 6.0pt 0in 6.0pt 0in;"><strong>Recommendation:</strong> It recommends adopting governance models that reflect household realities, tailoring participation strategies to different community groups and strengthening local management systems. These findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, donors, and practitioners seeking to enhance rural water sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions.</p> Hezbon Abong Fred K Wamalwa Copyright (c) 2025 Hezbon Abong, Fred K. Wamalwa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2025-09-22 2025-09-22 4 1 11 18 10.58425/ajgds.v4i1.411