Effects of alcohol abuse on the well being of urban housegold in Kenya: a case of Mlolongo township in Athi River division in Machakos County Kenya

Abstract

Alcohol abuse is a global problem which has affected urban communities in Kenya. The problem negatively impacts the socio-economic, psychological, and physiological wellbeing of the abusers. The menace of alcoholism has strangled the Kenyan population reducing them to zombies and drooling figures who waste the prime of their lives. The overall objective of the study is to establish the effects of alcohol abuse on the wellbeing of urban households in Mlolongo township in Athi River Division of Machakos County. It thus sought to establish the effects of alcohol abuse on the wellbeing of urban households in Kenya. Further, it examined strategies to counter alcohol abuse among urban dwellers in Kenya. The study was significant and justified on the basis of on-going policy formulation and implementation in respect of educating the Kenyan population and urban families on alcohol abuse and work-leisure balance. The two theories that formed the philosophical foundations for this undertaking were the primary socialization developed by Oetting and Donnermeyer and also the stepping stone theory of drug abuse propounded by Califano. The researcher used a qualitative and quantitative research design, in an area which has 19 residential estates. Simple random sampling was used to select 10 estates, which had a total of 443 household heads. Here, stratified sampling was used to select 110 respondents. Questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and pictorial presentations were used to collect data. On the basis of findings, the study concluded that alcohol abuse was increasingly common in married individuals (31.25%). Majority of urban households had experienced cases of alcohol abuse. Peer pressure, easy access to alcohol and idleness were the leading contributors to alcohol abuse in the urban households. Commonly experienced effects of alcohol abuse were domestic violence, discordant families, poverty and living in deplorable conditions, loss of employment and non-provision of families. Cheap alcoholic brands were preferred by the low income earners because they could not afford the ordinary beer. The study recommended the use of technology to sensitize people against dangers of alcohol abuse, empowering of law enforcement agencies. Other social groups like the Church should come out strongly to establish programmes for addicts and families that are directly or indirectly affected by alcohol abuse. They should also ensure that people who are rehabilitated are given alternative source of livelihood so as to recover from habitual drinking. The County government should allocate adequate resources to address alcohol problem from the local levels. Every member of the community should have a responsibility to ensure that alcoholic substances are kept away from children and persons until they are responsible enough to indulge in alcohol consumption responsibly. The researcher recommends further research on areas of curriculum development to cement family values and re-evaluation of existing policies vis-à-vis alcohol abuse. The study recommends further research on the effects of alcohol abuse on young children of alcoholic parents in other urban towns in other Counties.