Initiative to Curb Alcohol Abuse in Kigezi region Gets underway with a New Research Project.

By Alex Byakatonda.

 

Communications Officer-Kabale.

 

A team of researchers from Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology and University of Southampton in United Kingdom have launched a research project, aimed at reducing harmful use of alcohol and community evidence-based interventions to reduce its consumption in Kigezi region.

 

Titled “A community-based intervention against harmful use of Alcohol in Rural Base Setting- A pilot study around Lake Bunyonyi in Kigezi, Uganda COBIHA”, the research project will be carried out around areas surrounding Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale and Rubanda District.

Speaking during their entry meeting today with Kabale District LC5 Chairperson, Nelson Nshangabasheija, the team of researchers led by the project’s principal investor/Researcher, Prof Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, noted the project will be done with a funding grant from National Institute for Health and Care Research-(NIHR).

 

Prof Mbona added is study will review the existing community evidence-based interventions for reducing the harmful use of alcohol and conduct a pilot survey to establish the extent of the practice and factors associated with it.

The study will also explore the reasons for the harmful use of alcohol and perceptions on the effective and acceptable ways of reducing it.

The Kabale District LC5 Chairperson, Nelson Nshangabasheija, welcomed the researchers and noted that the outcomes of the research will help to mitigate the problems and negative effects of alcohol consumption Kigezi region. He added that although some local governments in Kigezi region have attempted to develop bi-laws and other regulatory guidelines against alcohol abuse, the region still lacks statistical evidence on the extent of alcohol abuse, adding that this research will come in handy to address this missing gap.

 

 

Methodology: The study will conduct systematic reviews for community-based interventions related to alcohol abuse, carry out a cross-sectional study to conduct data from randomly selected villages.

 

Other co-investigators are;

Dr Merlin Willcox, University of Southampton

Dr Vincent Mubangizi, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Dr Wilber Karugahe, Makerere University School of Psychology.

Prof Sam Maling, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Dr Agnes Napyo, Kabale University.

Dr Aggry Musoke, Makerere University School of Public Health.

Ms Catherine Gitige, Makerere university School of Public Health.

Dr Mary Mbuo, University of Southampton.

END