Perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Alcohol abuse is a problem in South Africa and it has negative effects on the wellbeing of individuals, families, friends, work associates and neighbours. Alcohol produces both psychological and physical dependence. Gillies (1999:112) indicated that alcoholism usually interferes with the ability to...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: T.M. Mothiba, R.N. Malema
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2009-09-01
Series:Curationis
Online Access:https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/991
_version_ 1811322055150272512
author T.M. Mothiba
R.N. Malema
author_facet T.M. Mothiba
R.N. Malema
author_sort T.M. Mothiba
collection DOAJ
description Alcohol abuse is a problem in South Africa and it has negative effects on the wellbeing of individuals, families, friends, work associates and neighbours. Alcohol produces both psychological and physical dependence. Gillies (1999:112) indicated that alcoholism usually interferes with the ability to socialize, work and may lead to much other destructive behaviour. It was further stated that people who are addicted to alcohol often have a low self-esteem, immaturity, are easily frustrated, and have difficulty in solving personal problems. This study investigated the perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol and identified, among others, anti-social behaviour, poor interpersonal relationships, family disorganization, poor integration with family members and physical damage as the major concerns. An attempt was also made to develop strategies that can be used to overcome the problems of alcohol abuse by youth. Design and Method: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was followed in this study for the participants to describe their perceptions regarding the phenomenon in question (Brink, 2006:113). Data were collected through individual unstructured interviews in one village of the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. The researchers employed the principles of Guba and Lincoln (1993) cited in De Vos (1998:331) relating to trustworthiness and adhered to the ethical standards as set by the Democratic Nurses Association of South Africa (DENOSA, 1998:2.3.2). Findings: Five themes and seven categories emerged from the data analysis, using Tech’s open coding approach (1990), as outlined in De Vos (1998:343), namely, antisocial behaviour, poor interpersonal behaviour, physical damage, poor progress in life processes and effects of alcohol on the body. To address the problem of alcohol abuse by youth in one village (the study area) of the Capricorn District in the Limpopo Province and other villages the study recommends that educational and recreational facilities and the formation of youth structures should be established.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T13:28:27Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ac0f014511114cbf859984b852d7469e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0379-8577
2223-6279
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T13:28:27Z
publishDate 2009-09-01
publisher AOSIS
record_format Article
series Curationis
spelling doaj.art-ac0f014511114cbf859984b852d7469e2022-12-22T02:45:02ZengAOSISCurationis0379-85772223-62792009-09-01324485410.4102/curationis.v32i4.991878Perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province, South AfricaT.M. Mothiba0R.N. Malema1Department of Nursing, University of Limpopo, Turfloop CampusDepartment of Nursing, University of Limpopo, Turfloop CampusAlcohol abuse is a problem in South Africa and it has negative effects on the wellbeing of individuals, families, friends, work associates and neighbours. Alcohol produces both psychological and physical dependence. Gillies (1999:112) indicated that alcoholism usually interferes with the ability to socialize, work and may lead to much other destructive behaviour. It was further stated that people who are addicted to alcohol often have a low self-esteem, immaturity, are easily frustrated, and have difficulty in solving personal problems. This study investigated the perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol and identified, among others, anti-social behaviour, poor interpersonal relationships, family disorganization, poor integration with family members and physical damage as the major concerns. An attempt was also made to develop strategies that can be used to overcome the problems of alcohol abuse by youth. Design and Method: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was followed in this study for the participants to describe their perceptions regarding the phenomenon in question (Brink, 2006:113). Data were collected through individual unstructured interviews in one village of the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. The researchers employed the principles of Guba and Lincoln (1993) cited in De Vos (1998:331) relating to trustworthiness and adhered to the ethical standards as set by the Democratic Nurses Association of South Africa (DENOSA, 1998:2.3.2). Findings: Five themes and seven categories emerged from the data analysis, using Tech’s open coding approach (1990), as outlined in De Vos (1998:343), namely, antisocial behaviour, poor interpersonal behaviour, physical damage, poor progress in life processes and effects of alcohol on the body. To address the problem of alcohol abuse by youth in one village (the study area) of the Capricorn District in the Limpopo Province and other villages the study recommends that educational and recreational facilities and the formation of youth structures should be established.https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/991
spellingShingle T.M. Mothiba
R.N. Malema
Perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa
Curationis
title Perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_full Perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_fullStr Perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_short Perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_sort perceptions of community members towards youth abusing alcohol in the capricorn district of the limpopo province south africa
url https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/991
work_keys_str_mv AT tmmothiba perceptionsofcommunitymemberstowardsyouthabusingalcoholinthecapricorndistrictofthelimpopoprovincesouthafrica
AT rnmalema perceptionsofcommunitymemberstowardsyouthabusingalcoholinthecapricorndistrictofthelimpopoprovincesouthafrica