Open AccessAlcohol Use among Medical Students: Linking Knowledge as a Social Capital Defining Norms in Learning Institutions
Author(s) -
Patrick N. Njagi,
Ronnie Midigo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of medical and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2593-8339
DOI - 10.24018/ejmed.2021.3.1.504
Subject(s) - respondent , descriptive statistics , medical education , alcohol , social capital , psychology , argument (complex analysis) , public health , sample (material) , environmental health , medicine , sociology , nursing , social science , political science , mathematics , biochemistry , statistics , chemistry , chromatography , law
College alcohol use continues to be a national public health issue. World Health Organization approximates that 53% of people at the age of 15 years and above, have at one time used alcohol. Alcohol is recognized and acts as ‘entrance’ to the use of other substances. The study was carried out in Kenya Medical Training College, Embu Campus. The study presents an argument that knowledge about alcohol is a social capital defining use and non-use of alcohol among medical students at Kenya Medical Training College. A Cross-sectional analytical approach was adopted for the study design. A sample of 270 students was included in the study. Data was analyzed using both descriptive (Frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (chi square tests and regression analysis). For objective one, the study finds a 75% prevalence rate of alcohol use among students of Embu MTC. Demographic factors influencing alcohol use include, religion (p=0.002205), program undertaken (p<0.0001) and with whom the respondent is living with (p<0.0001). The study recommends development and implementation of policies and programs aimed at addressing the widespread use of alcohol in the study site.