Alcohol consumption patterns and perceptions among Makerere University students in hostel

Abstract

This study was conducted in Kikoni, Kawempe Division, Kampala District. The main objective of the study was to explore the patterns and perception of alcohol consumption among Makerere University students in hostels. The study specifically assessed the factors that motivate students to drink, their positive and negative perception of alcohol consumption and ways through which alcohol consumption can be alleviated. The study employed a cross-sectional research design and the respondents were selected using both purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The findings indicated that all students that engaged in the study, have drunk alcohol before and 71.6% of the students currently consumed alcohol regularly. Most of the students took spirits and hard liquor mainly compared to the other types of alcohol making the percentage of 39.4%. Majority of the respondents to the survey typically proffered and usually drunk their alcohol from bars and a number of them from their hostels. Findings also indicated that peer pressure was biggest influencing factor that motivated students to drink alcohol with69.0% followed by The study concluded that through the relevant literature review and survey carried out that majority of the student start the behaviour of alcohol consumption in secondary school and when they get to university, they not only drink alcohol but also do it in the company of drug such as marijuana, (weed), Cuba, shisha among others. The hostel and university administrations, parents, healthcare workers and most importantly the students themselves should maintain vigilance in their awareness of the need for prevention efforts with this group of students.