Effects of Environment and Parenting Practices on Alcohol Use among Primary School Pupils in Kenya

Abstract

Alcohol remains one of the most widely used substances among early and late adolescent youth. Underage drinking and its associated problems have profound negative consequences for underage drinkers themselves, their families, their communities, and society as a whole. Studies have shown that exposure to alcohol in adolescence can have detrimental effects on brain development and intellectual capabilities, and increases the likelihood for later alcohol dependence. The study aimed to determine the effects of environment and parenting practices on alcohol use among primary school pupils in Kenya. The study used a cross-sectional design covering primary schools from all the eight regions of Kenya. The study employed purposive, proportionate and random sampling methods. A total of 3,307 primary school pupils from 177 primary schools nationally were interviewed representing a response rate of 82.7%. According to the findings 51.8% of the pupils interviewed were male while 48.2% were female. Data showed that 7.2% of primary school pupils were lifetime users of alcohol. Findings revealed that home environment, school environment and parenting were significant correlates of lifetime alcohol use. The study therefore concluded that prevention programs targeting primary school going children in Kenya require a multi-pronged approach. The study underscores the importance of integrating prevention programs with targeted interventions with focus on the home environment, school environment and positive parenting practices in order to achieve delayed onset or abstinence to alcohol use.