An evaluation of the effectiveness of alcoholics’ anonymous self-help group in reducing personal alcohol consumption among adults in Windhoek
| dc.contributor.advisor | Ananias, J | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mondo, Specioza Nnampijja | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-12T12:39:28Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-12T12:39:28Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Social Work | |
| dc.description.abstract | Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) self-help groups' members offer mutual support for one another by allowing group members to nourish their natural tendencies, sharing experiences and supporting one another in a non-professional peer-operated organisation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an AA self-help group in reducing personal alcohol consumption among adults in Windhoek. Evaluation research design was used in a qualitative study approach. Purposive sampling was used to select 10 regular members of the AA self-help group. Data was collected utilising face to face interviews. An interview schedule consisting of open-ended and probing questions was used to collect data. The data were analysed thematically. Findings of the study showed that individuals who attend AA self-help group regularly were more likely to reduce alcohol consumption. The study concluded that AA self-help group is effective in reducing personal alcohol consumption among its members. AA self-help group also assists group members to recover from the conditions related to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and insomnia resulting from abstinence from alcohol consumption. The study also found that group members improved their relationship at the workplace with colleagues and supervisors as well as with family members and friends as a result of self-discipline from alcohol consumption. Abstaining from alcohol consumption also enabled group members to improve and develop skills such as problem-solving, conflict resolution, anger management, and communication skills, planning for the future, as well as the ability to identify symptoms of other addictive behaviours. Major recommendations were as follows: Firstly, participants of the study and other group members of AA self-help group need to maintain behaviour changed of abstinence by continuing to attend meetings regularly and active participation during group meetings. Secondly, AA self-help group should fmd a v way of increasing the number of meetings in the most affected areas such as Katutura and beyond as well as other parts of the country and in one of the native languages. Thirdly, the MoRSS should increase its involvement with organisations such as AA and avail venues for instance clinic spaces to be used after 17HOO and over weekends. Fourthly, the (MoRSS) needs to take the lead and increase awareness on the dangers of alcohol consumption and the stigma attached to the problem and treatment-seeking in Windhoek and other parts of the country. Fifthly, the social workers in the MoRSS who are dealing with prevention and reduction programmes for substance use and abuse which includes alcohol need to develop self-help group programmes for individuals with substance use problem. Sixthly, the MoRSS may consider screening clients who display symptoms of alcohol use especially those who are attended at Mental Health Department for early intervention and referral. Finally, future research using the mixed-methods approach is recommended for the existing AA branches and future ones which may include AA group members and the support persons from Al-Anon. This is (Al-Anon) a sister organisation to AA, which assists individuals whose family members have a drinking problem. When such research is done, it may provide a broader picture of the effectiveness of AA self-help group in reducing alcohol consumption among adults | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11070/4062 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of Namibia | |
| dc.subject | Alcoholics anonymous | |
| dc.subject | Self-help groups | |
| dc.subject | Mutual support | |
| dc.subject | Personal alcohol consumption | |
| dc.subject | Windhoek | |
| dc.subject | University of Namibia | |
| dc.subject | Namibia | |
| dc.title | An evaluation of the effectiveness of alcoholics’ anonymous self-help group in reducing personal alcohol consumption among adults in Windhoek | |
| dc.type | Thesis |