Relationship Between Alcohol Use Disorder and Divorce Among Spouses in Taveta Sub-County, Taita Taveta County, Kenya

Alcohol abuse has significant social and mental health consequences. While many studies have examined alcohol abuse in general, few researchers have explored the relationship between alcohol use disorder and divorce. This study investigated the relationship between alcohol use disorder and divorce among spouses in the Taveta Sub-County, Kenya. The research employed a cross-sectional study design, with a sample size of 382 respondents from Taita-Taveta County, Kenya. A stratified sampling method was used to select participants, determined using the Krejcie and Morgan formula, ensuring a 95% confidence interval and a 5% margin of error. Data were collected through structured questionnaires adopted from the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Couples Perceived Causes and Remedies of Divorce Questionnaire (CPCRDQ). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25, employing descriptive statistics to summarize levels of alcohol use disorder and Pearson correlation to assess the relationship between alcohol use disorder and divorce. The findings revealed higher levels of alcohol use disorder among spouses, with 28% of participants reporting moderate risk abuse of alcohol while 50.3% reported high-risk abuse of alcohol. The findings of this study show that there is a significant relationship (p=0.013) between alcohol use disorder and divorce among spouses. The study established a significant relationship between alcohol use disorder and divorce among spouses in Taveta Sub-County. The high levels of alcohol abuse among the participants were closely linked to higher divorce rates, indicating that alcohol use disorder is a critical factor contributing to marital instability in this region. The study's limitations were a cross-sectional design, a regional focus, and reliance on self-reported data, which limited generalizability and causality. Implementation of community education programs focusing on the adverse effects of alcohol abuse civil society organizations would community education programs focusing on the adverse effects of alcohol abuse. Offering marital therapy services to affected individuals also reduces the prevalence of alcohol use disorder and divorce in the community. Keywords: Keywords: Alcohol Use Disorder, Divorce, Marital Instability, Public Health Intervention