Socio-demographic and Economic Factors Associated with Youths Alcohol Abuse in Rombo District

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the influence of socio-demographic and economic factors on youth alcohol abuse in Rombo District. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key-Informant Interviews were used for data collection. Quantitative data were analysed by Statistical Product for Social Solutions (SPSS Version 20) while textual data was analysed by thematic analysis. The study revealed that parents and peer groups have influence on youth alcohol abuse, alcohol accessibility and affordability by youths and that alcohol prices are affordable to almost everyone have influence to youth alcohol abuse. The study findings depict that existence of many types of locally brewed alcohol and many registered and unregistered alcohols selling points contribute to youth alcohol abuse. The study concludes that proper family characters aiming at curbing alcohol abuse among youth are of paramount importance, as most youth learn to drink at their young age. The study recommends that the government should enforce regulations related to alcohol use, especially that concerning selling of alcohol to the under age, as well on existences several local brews of which most of them being illegal and control of unregistered alcohol selling points is mostly challenging task, the government should impose tax on locally brewed alcohol to increase their prices, as they are so cheap, family heads and elders should be role models by controlling their drinking behaviours, especially drinking with/in presence of their children. Moreover, they should restrict their youth from drink alcohol and there should be strong punishment for under age selling and drinking of alcohol.