AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF HOW ALCOHOL USE INFLUENCES HIV-RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG THE YOUTH IN SLUM AREAS OF NAKAWA DIVISION.
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Date
2025-04-09
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
This exploratory study examines the influence of alcohol use on HIV-risk behaviors among youth (aged 15–24) in the slum areas of Nakawa Division, Kampala, Uganda. Despite Uganda’s progress in reducing HIV prevalence, youth in urban slums remain disproportionately affected, with alcohol use identified as a key factor intensifying risky sexual behaviors. The study employs a qualitative design, utilizing in-depth interviews with 27 youth to explore their perceptions, social contexts, and environmental factors shaping alcohol consumption and HIV-related risks. Findings reveal that alcohol use diminishes risk perception, increases engagement in unprotected sex and multiple partnerships, and is reinforced by peer pressure, gender norms, and economic hardship. Barriers to HIV prevention, such as limited access to condoms and stigma, further compound vulnerabilities.
The study highlights the need for targeted interventions addressing the socio-cultural and structural drivers of alcohol-related HIV risks, including community-based education, improved access to prevention services, and poverty-alleviation programs. Grounded in the Social Ecological Model and Theory of Planned Behavior, the research underscores the interplay of individual, social, and environmental factors in shaping youth behaviors. Recommendations include integrating alcohol harm reduction into HIV prevention strategies and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration. The study contributes to literature on urban health disparities and informs policy and social work practice aimed at mitigating HIV transmission among vulnerable youth populations.
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Dissertation