Abstract:
Introduction: Alcohol use affects approximately 1.3 billion people and contributes to 3.5% of global
health problems and disability (WHO 2004). In Kenya, 60% of alcohol consumed is
illicit brew (Nacada,2002) despite being declared illegal in 1978 through a presidential
decree. Mass incidences of blindness, massive death, low standards of education, poverty
and deteriorating health conditions directly affect the consumers and society at large.The
Alcohol Control Act of 2010 has been enacted to regulate the quality and hours of
alcohol consumption. This survey assessed the socioeconomic effects of alcohol
consumption in the household in Mumias Division.
Objective: To survey consumption of illicit brew and determine social and economic
effects of the brew on households Mumias division, Kenya.
Study area: Mumias division, Western province, Kenya. Sugar cane farming is the main
economic activity in the area.
Study design: Cross sectional survey. All data collection was done at a point in time
Study population. A total of 353 respondents took part in the study.
Sampling: Stratified random sampling was used in selection of household heads and
the key informants sampled purposively.
Data collection tools: face to face interview, structured questionnaires, observation and
focus group discussions (FGDs).
Data Analysis: Frequencies, percentages. Chi-square test and logistic regression was
done using SPSS statistical software.
Data presentation: tables, pie charts, bar charts.
Results: Most (64.6%) of the respondents were male, (77.1%) of whom consumed
alcohol and of these, 33.3% consumed home made brew. Age, education level,
employment and income level were all independently significantly associated with
consumption of illicit brew (p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that
adjusting for all other factors including education, age, employment and income levels
were significant factors predicting consumption of illicit brew (all p<0.05)
Conclusion: Illicit brew consumption had effects on both the user and non user and
contributed to the social and economic problems in the household. Low level of
education, lack of employment, low income and age were predicting factors leading to
illicit brew consumption.
Recommendations Illicit brew and related problems arose out of complex relationship
between the consumer, alcohol, culture and social, political, economic and physical
environment. Policies, programs and other initiatives should be established to strengthen
individual ability, family and community to economic and social empowerment as tools
to fight alcoholism.
