Interpersonal Communication Channels and Alcohol Consumption among Students in Government Tertiary Medical Colleges in Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to evaluate how interpersonal communication channels influenced the consumption of alcohol among college students. Specifically, the study focused on public tertiary colleges in Kenya. The study was motivated by the increased cases of dropout, ill-health, poor performance, and other related effects of alcohol among college students. This is despite the continued efforts to curb alcohol abuse among students by agencies such as the United Nations Office for Drug and Crime, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse, and the school management, among other agencies. The study was anchored on social cognitive theory. Through a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained using a questionnaire and interview schedule. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. The findings revealed that alcohol consumption among college students was significantly influenced by interpersonal communication channels (t = 14.381, p<0.05). The study recommended the need for stakeholders, including the government and other agencies, to spearhead campaigns to sensitize the students on the ills of alcohol consumption and uphold measures that reduce the encouragement of alcohol consumption through interpersonal communication channels.