Gender Differences in Alcoholism and its Implications during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The study explored alcohol consumption among residents in Agbani community in Nkanu-West Local government area of Enugu state, South-East Nigeria. It focused on ascertaining if there is any variation in consumption of alcohol during the covid-19 era according to sex, age grade and marital status of those that consumed alcohol, type of alcohol consumed more, reasons for consumption, and the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. This study made use of oral stories, eye witness account, comparative time analysis and also qualitative method by reviewing existing literatures and data as its methodology. The study anchored on interactionist cultural transmission perspective which opines that humans learn how to behave in social situations whether properly or improperly by interacting with others. The findings revealed that married women consumed more alcohol than unmarried women. The findings also showed that among the alcohol beverages spirits are consumed over beer because they are cheaper.   Also majority of the research participants started using it because it served the purpose of protecting them from covid-19 infection due to its high volume of alcoholic content. Findings showed that majority of the residents are ignorant of the implication(s) of alcohol abuse to their health and well being though they have fair knowledge of its cultural implications. The study therefore suggests proper alcohol sensitization especially its negative impact on ability to reproductive system such as sterility and infertility which has devastating effect on marital and family relationships. The study also suggests that accessing alcohol especially spirits should be regulated/implemented by law through its supply and pricing factors to make it less accessible. In conclusion, there is an increase in alcohol consumption without gender or age differences. The increase is associated with perceived learned knowledge that it is a preventive strategy to the world pandemic corona virus.