Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Fathers’ alcohol use impacts family well-being, including increased risk for
violence, poor child outcomes, and low engagement in care. Yet few
studies examine the drivers of alcohol use among fathers or the role of
gendered expectations and sociocultural norms on use, especially in low-
resource settings like Kenya. Understanding why fathers drink, the
consequences of use, and barriers to care is key to designing scalable,
responsive interventions. In Eldoret, Kenya, community members, leaders,
providers, and fathers experiencing problematic alcohol use participated in
interviews and focus groups. Participants discussed reasons for drinking, its
impacts, and barriers to care. Using the framework method, transcripts were
coded and summarised using the socioecological model. Reasons and
consequences of alcohol use emerged across individual, interpersonal, and
sociocultural levels. Individually, fathers used alcohol to escape distress with
consequences on physical and mental health. At the family level, alcohol
was used to avoid conflict, contributing to risk for violence and poor child
outcomes. Socioculturally, drinking was shaped by gender norms, with
consequences like stigma and loss of social status, which reinforced shame
and isolation. Barriers to care included lack of awareness, poor service
access, and stigma. Intervention and implementation strategies must
address avoidant coping, masculinity norms, and local resource constraints.
