Relationship between selected rehabilitation factors and recovering alcoholics competencies in central and Nairobi regions, Kenya

Abstract

Attainment of sobriety calls for appropriately planned and skillfully managed process that offers personal support and guidance, necessitating effective approaches during alcohol rehabilitation. An understanding of how various rehabilitation related factors influence recovering alcoholics’ competencies is therefore key to their reintegration into society. Recovery from alcohol addiction should therefore result in a substantial improvement in the reduction of alcohol intake and an improvement in personal health and social functioning for the recovering alcoholic. The study sought to determine the relationship between selected rehabilitation factors on recovering alcoholics’ social and personal competencies in Central and Nairobi regions, in Kenya. The study adopted behavioural, Adlerian and person centred theories for its theoretical framework. The study employed the ex-post- facto correlational research design with an accessible population of 202 recovering alcoholics and 81 addiction counsellors in 17 rehabilitation facilities in Central and Nairobi regions employing the 12 step facilitation approach. Census sampling method was used for the addiction counsellors while a sample size of 134 respondents calculated using Taro Yamane simplified formula was used for the recovering alcoholics. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire for the recovering alcoholics and addiction counsellors. The instrument was validated and adjustments made after the pilot study conducted in two rehabilitation centres in Nakuru County. Reliability was determined using the Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient for the study variables as 0.898, 0.860, 0.747, 0.742 and 0.887 respectively. The data was analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Pearson correlations were used to test the relationship between the dependent variable (recovering alcoholics’ competencies) and the independent variables (AA 12 steps facilitation, addiction counsellors’ characteristics, recovering alcoholics’ characteristics and level of family support). All independent variables were statistically significant at p=0.000<0.05 with the AA 12 steps facilitation model and recovering alcoholic characteristics reporting moderate positive association (r=0.491; 0.580), while addiction counsellor characteristics and level of family support reported strong positive association (r=0.649; 0.600) respectively on recovering alcoholics’ competencies. The study recommends use of the 12-step approach in alcohol rehabilitation and strengthening of steps established to positively contribute towards social and personal competencies. Rehabilitation centres need to consider tailoring treatment based on gender to consciously address the low number of women seeking treatment for alcohol dependency