Actors influencing alcohol abuse among out-of-school youth in Mbale municipality, Mbale district.

Abstract

The study was to determine factors influencing alcohol abuse among out-of-school youth in Mbale Municipality Mbale District. General objective: was to investigate factors influencing alcohol abuse among out-of-school youths in Mbale Municipality. The specific objectives were: to determine individual factors influencing alcohol abuse among out-of-school youths, to identify socio-economic factors influencing alcohol abuse among out-of-school youths and to establish cultural factors influencing alcohol abuse among out-of- school youths in Mbale Municipality. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used for the study in which 248 respondents consented before being interviewed; both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used through key informant interview guide and questionnaires respectively to obtain information concerning the above stated study. Data was analyzed in SPSS and the results presented in tables, pie charts and graphs. Results: The findings indicate that the major factors influencing alcohol abuse among out of school youths in Mbale Municipality included the following variables, in order of their significance: Staying with parents who drank alcohol (P-value=0.000), Involvement of youth in Cultural rituals as marriage, circumcision and last funeral rite which require the use of alcohol(P-value=0.000),Employment status(P-value=0.011) ),Heard of adverts for alcohol(p<0.017), Gender (P-value=0.027), Age at which the youth starts to drinking alcohol (P-value=0.031), Place of residence (P-value 0.041) and Cultural perception on the consumption of alcohol among the youth(P-value=0.047) showed statistically significant association with the consumption of alcohol among out-of school youths. Other individual factors such as age, marital status, religion and staying with parents, level of education, average monthly income, role models and existence of community policies on the consumption of alcohol among the youth did not indicate a statistically significant association (p>0.05) with the consumption of alcohol. Conclusions: The key significant factors influencing alcohol abuse among the youths in Mbale Municipality included the following gender, place of residence, staying with parents who drink xiv alcohol, age at which the youth start drinking alcohol, employment status, heard of adverts for alcohol, cultural perception on the consumption of alcohol among the youth and involvement of youth in cultural rituals which require the use of alcohol. Recommendation: Government through Ministry of Education should strengthen educational programmes by encouraging schools to come up with attractive programmes including but not limited to crafts and handiwork or vocational trainings and maintain the youths in schools, in addition give scholarships and students loan. And impose and implement high taxes on alcohol both locally made and imported to lessen easy access for the youth. District to setup strong community policies that regulate drinking alcohol in public places; such as opening drinking places after 5:00pm closing at10;00pm on working days and opening at 2:00pm on weekend and closing at midnight and prohibit sale of alcohol before the stated time. The District authorities should arrest sellers especially those who sell alcohol to youths below 18 years of age. The District Authorities together with the Local Council leaders to restrict the use of alcohol in homes especially by adults who might influence children to use alcohol for example alcohol at home may only be allowed during special occasions. Future studies should be done on factors influencing alcohol abuse among in school youth in Mbale Municipality.