FAMILY DYNAMICS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AMONG THE YOUTH IN SELECTED REHABILITATION CENTRES IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA
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Date
2021-10
Authors
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Publisher
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN AFRICA
Abstract
This study investigated family dynamics and substance use disorders among the youth in selected rehabilitation centers in Nairobi County, Kenya. The objectives that guided this study were; To determine the influence of family structure on SUDs among the youth, To establish the relationship between family flexibility and SUDs among the youth, To assess the influence of family cohesion on SUDs among the youth, To evaluate the influence of family communication patterns on SUDs among the youth, To Identify the family-based intervention strategies for SUDs among the youth and To establish the family-support systems/programs available for families with youth SUDs. The study was guided by the family structure theory. The research design was mixed method embedded research design. The target population was 303 youth in selected rehabilitation centers in Nairobi County, aged between 18-35 years and their parents. A sample of 172 clients was obtained and selected randomly to take part in quantitative study. Another 12 clients who had stayed in rehabilitation centers for the longest time were purposively selected in order to provide qualitative data. Similarly, 12 parents were conveniently selected in order to provide qualitative data. Therefore, the total sample size comprised of 196 respondents. Quantitative data was collected using FACES-IV, AUDIT 10, and DAST-10 questionnaires while qualitative data was collected using interview guides. Quantitative data analysis used descriptive statistics and inferential statistics while qualitative data was analysed thematically backed by narratives from respondents. The study had the following findings: Majority of the respondents had severe levels of SUDs, youth from family structure headed by both mother and father had the least mean of SUDs, most families recorded unhealthy flexibility, majority coming from families which had chaotic family flexibility, followed by Rigid flexibility. There was a weak negative correlation between balanced family flexibility and SUDs where most respondents came from families with unhealthy cohesion, there was a strong negative correlation between disengaged family cohesion and SUDs. Lastly the study found that communication was very poor among the respondents. The parents have tried several intervention strategies as they struggle to assist the youth but there are no systems/programmes from Government or any other authority to assist parents and guardians as they struggle with youth involved in SUDs. From these findings, the study made several recommendations; Parents need to be firm as they bring up the youth, the educational institutions need to educate our youth on pro-social values and morals, the government ought to come up with more rehabilitation centres with subsidized prices and lastly the government and the non-governmental organizations ought to demonstrate a high level of sensitivity on the matters of the youth, parents and guardians trapped in SUDs one way or another. Further research should be done on systems/programmes to support parents and guardians, deeply explore the vulnerability of the youth, ascertain the effectiveness of the rehabilitation approaches and find out why we have more males than females in Rehabs.
Description
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD) IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
Keywords
SUBSTANCE USE--YOUTH--NAIROBI REHABILITATION CENTRES --NAIROBI COUNTY, DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS IN KENYA