Causes and Effects of Alcohol Consumption in greater Kabale (Rubanda, Kabale and Rukiga Districts

Description

This project examined the causes and effects of alcohol consumption in Kabale, Rubanda and Rukiga districts. The study objectives were: to examine the causes of alcoholism consumption in Kabale, Rubanda and Rukiga districts; to examine the effects of alcoholism consumption in Kabale, Rubanda and Rukiga districts; and, to suggest the possible mitigation measures to reduce the level of alcohol consumption in Kigezi Sub Region. This project applied a cross-sectional design. Data was collected from 618 respondents and analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Since descriptive analysis entailed description of a single variable and its attributes, frequency tables were used to present the data. The findings revealed that there were many causes of alcohol consumption in Kabale, Rukiga and Rubanda districts. Some of these causes were identified as abundance of local, inexpensive brews, Income generation dependency; alcohol being embedded in social life and introduced early to children; escape from hardship; peer influence; parental and sibling consumption; and, unemployment within families. It was also found out that there were effects of caused by alcohol consumption namely: loss of household income:  increased malnutrition among children; family conflict and marital dissatisfaction; higher healthcare costs; school dropouts; loss of jobs; theft, and even suicide; increased risk of HIV infection and death, rise in domestic violence; crime; erosion of family welfare; loss of responsibility; and poor parenting in families affected by alcohol; brain, liver, kidney damage; loss of coordination, and reproductive harm in intoxicated individuals.  Strategies to reduce on alcohol consumption in Kabale, Rukiga and Rubanda districts were identified as: Peer pressure education; Law enforcement; social norm changes; Restricted alcohol access before time; increasing taxes on alcohol and Ban advertising alcohol; and creation of jobs mostly for the youths.