Assessment of Factors Associated with Alcohol Abuse among Youth Aged (15-25) Years in Starch Factory at Lira Municipality Lira District, Uganda
Okello Anthony
Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry Kampala International University Western Campus Uganda.
ABSTRACT
In Uganda, alcohol consumption has been on the rise, with WHO ranking Uganda as the highest consumer in the world. Studies conducted among internally displaced populations in war-torn areas of northern Uganda have revealed that alcoholism is a prevalent issue, particularly among men. This has become a major cause of domestic violence, accidents, and other fatalities within homes. The aim of this study was to assess the factors contributing to alcohol abuse among young people aged 15-25 at Starch Factory at Lira district Uganda. Questionnaires were used to gather data, which was then analyzed manually using pens, papers, and calculators, and later presented in numerical tables using a computer. The study revealed that the main contributing factors to alcohol abuse among young people were environmental, such as the availability of alcohol, local breweries, and persuasive advertisements. Socio-economic factors, including peer pressure, social norms, unemployment stress, and feelings of boredom, also played a significant role. The study also identified the major repercussions of alcohol abuse on health and the economy. In conclusion, the availability of alcohol through numerous breweries and persuasive advertisements, along with social norms, unemployment, boredom, and peer pressure, were found to be the primary drivers of alcohol abuse among young people in this village. The government should therefore organize and fund health talk programs and seminars to raise awareness within the community about the factors contributing to alcohol abuse and its impact on their lives. Additionally, the government should implement strict alcohol policies that regulate the age, level, and time of alcohol consumption.
Keywords: Alcohol consumption, Alcohol abuse, Youths, breweries, Persuasive advertisements.
CITE AS: Okello Anthony (2024). Assessment of Factors Associated with Alcohol Abuse among Youth Aged (15-25) Years in Starch Factory at Lira Municipality Lira District, Uganda. IDOSR JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES 10(3) 1-17. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JES/103.1.17