Assessment of Determinants of Alcoholism among Youths Aged 19-35 Years in Ruiru Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya

Alcohol in Africa is mainly reserved for ceremonial occasions. Over the last few decades, alcohol in Kenya has become prevalent beverage, mainly due to expansion of breweries across the country. Alcohol dependence among youths has been alarming in Kenya where it cripples both the health of an individual and society as whole. It was estimated that about 1.2% of the Kenyans were binge drinkers while majority were youths who are below 35 years comprising 80% of the Kenya’s population where the same age group is either in college or in workforce. In Ruiru Sub-county alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse has been increasing leading to economic instability. Lack of knowledge on the consequences of alcohol, false beliefs that alcohol facilitates social need, violating laws and regulations for proper social life, family habits among others may be the root cause of being alcohol dependence among young adults. The need to socialize, to have fun and belong to social peer group were the reasons why youths involves themselves in alcohol drinking behaviors. Alcohol-attributable deaths worldwide claims 3.3 million people every year where 25% of those deaths occur in youths aged 20-39 years. Since there was no current data on alcohol dependence of the youths aged 19-35 years, the study therefore intends to assess whether there is an association between socio-economic factors and the risk of being alcohol dependence, whether the youths have knowledge on impacts of excessive drinking, youths attitudes towards their drinking behavior, risk perceptions on why they drink alcohol, the number of alcohol-attributable deaths and hospitalization in Ruiru sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya. The study was a cross-sectional study involving both quantitative and qualitative surveys. A pilot study was conducted and regular meetings with the research leader and research assistants to check out the validity and reliability of data collection instruments. 320 respondents who positively answered at least 3-5 drinking problems of both genders and 32 key informants were interviewed. Self-administered structured questionnaires with the youths, face to face interviews with key informants and focus group discussions respectively was used to collect data. (SPSS) version 24 which yielded frequency tables, percentages, charts and Chi Square Test was used to analyze data. The study results revealed that there was an association between socio-economic factors and youths being alcohol dependence. Youths sometimes worry about their drinking habits and were aware that different alcohols vary in strength, excessive use of alcohol can lead to unhealthy effects, amount they consume can be addictive and their drinking habits is negatively affecting others. Their friends plays major role in influencing them to drink alcohol while in most instances they drink with them to socialize, have fun and reduce stress. No alcohol-attributable deaths recorded while the outpatients were 126 due alcohol related illnesses from January to June 2018 in Ruiru Sub-County level 4 hospital. The study recommends that measures and policies to regulate prices of alcoholic drinks in retail outlets should be initiated by the authorities and introduce health promotion programs for youths. Youths should adopt good habits that reflects what they want to be in future and be encouraged to involve themselves in recreation activities. Other stakeholders should take part in promoting public health programs while local government and community should form supporting networks through mobilization.