Publication:

The Epidemiology of Alcohol use Disorder in the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Kenyan Perspective

Aims:During the covid-19 pandemic period restrictions on alcohol consumption have been imposed by various governments guided by World Health Organization Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) guidelines on public protection. The focus is to limit the spread of Coronavirus disease. The study aims at using an Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test as a screening tool to explore experiences of alcohol consumption during the past one year of the Covid-19 pandemic among adults under rehabilitations in Kenyans. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional quantitative research design was used. Participants were sort from two Counties in Kenya with the highest rate of alcohol use while purposive sampling method was used to select two rehabilitation facilities with the highest number of admitted clients. Ninetythree respondents participated; this was 83% of the calculated sample size. Results: Study results tested hazardous alcohol use found that on the sequence of alcohol consumption, 71% of the participants consumed alcohol 4 or more times in a week. The test on dependence alcohol use found that on daily or almost daily most of the participants were unable to stop drinking once started, were unable to meet expectations due to drinking and needed a first drink in the morning after a heavy session, they were represented by 51.6%, 51.6% and 66.7% respectively. On harmful alcohol use 82% of the participants were concerned to cut down on their drinking. Conclusion:Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test is an important tool to evaluate alcohol consumption duringthe covid-19 restrictions.