CAUSES OF ALCOHOLISM AMONG THE YOUTH

A CASE STUDY OF MUKONO TOWN COUNCIL

MUKONO DISTRICT

KIKONYOGO ROBERT

08/U/10100/BGE/PE

REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

THE AWARD OF THE BACHELOR OF GUIDANCE

AND COUNSELLING

OF KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

JULY, 2011

Declaration

I Kikonyogo Robert declare that this work is original and has not been submitted to any other university before.

Signature: ………………………………………………………

KIKONYOGO ROBERT

Date: ………………………………………….……

This proposal has been submitted for examination with the approval of the supervisor, Mr. Ssemakula Paul

Signature : …………………………………………………………..

MR. SSEMAKULA PAUL

Date: ………………………………………………………….

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank MTC-Mukono District for supporting me in my field research and for granting me permission to use their project as a case study. I would also like to thank my mother Mrs.Nakayiza Cissy for her encouragement during the studies and for having confidence in me and for encouraging me to be who I am.

Thank you to MTC staff for identifying and introducing me to the field respondents. Special thanks to Mrs. Sharon and Mr.Ssenfuka Samuel for assisting me during data collection.

Special thanks to my supervisor Mr. Ssemakula Paul, my lecturers and course mates for the support extended to me in many ways.

Most importantly, my participants, without whom this study would not have been possible. Their lived experiences which they openly shared with me made me realize that “the beauty of life does not only depend on how happy you are, but on how happy others can be because of you”. Their experiences encouraged me to make sure that their plight and needs are highlighted and adequately addressed.

Finally, and most importantly, I wish to thank the almighty God for the strength, courage and motivation He gave me throughout my studies. I am sure that without His blessings I would not have done it.

Abstract

The study covered the alcohol programs of the Mukono District in Uganda, taking the case study of Mukono Town Council. The specific objectives of the study were: to assess the activities carried out by Mukono District in the alcohol program, assess the reactions of the various stakeholders towards the program, examine the constraints by the district and the stakeholders and explore opportunities for the treatment and prevention of alcohol abuse. The study was qualitative and descriptive. Key informant interviews were used to collect data from 50 respondents representing a wide range of stakeholders. Findings indicate a number of reactions towards the program. Some respondents felt that the problem of alcohol should be taken seriously and that alcoholism should be targeted as a disease. The respondents were supportive before the program and wanted it to continue. Community education was seen as having a positive effect as reflected through community initiatives. Some respondents were not in favor of controlling alcohol and recommended that all initiatives to control alcohol be community-driven. The program faced a number of challenges including: perception of alcoholism, stigma of alcoholism, little resources, lack of government policy on alcohol, the nature of the disease, shortage of drugs, poverty in the community, low capacity of medical staff, culture of alcohol and lack of family support to alcoholic patients. Despite the limitations, the program presented opportunities for alcohol programming such as the disease concept of alcoholism, successful treatment, special training for medical staff, community education, a combination of alcohol programming with other community development initiatives and ways of eliciting political will. The study yielded the following recommendations: need for an alcohol policy, alternative income generation activities at a household level, special addiction education in medical schools, and surveillance of alcoholism trends by the health ministry and a common working definition of alcoholism. Alcoholism should be regarded as a public health problem.

Thursday 1 September 2011

Finally, and most importantly, I wish to thank the almighty God for the strength, courage and motivation He gave me throughout my studies. I am sure that without His blessings I would not have done it.