Assessment of Risks Awareness Influence on Caffeinated Energy Drinks Use Among Secondary Students in Njiru Subcounty, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Caffeinated Energy Drinks have been found by past research studies to be addictive psychoactive stimulants that have also been associated with other toxic and psychological risks to the users. This being particularly due to excessively high caffeine and sugar content. The purpose of this study was to assess risks awareness on levels of caffeinated energy drinks use among secondary students in Njiru Sub County, Nairobi. The study objectives included to assess students’ psychosocial risks awareness influence on CEDs use, to evaluate students’ addictive risk awareness influence on CEDs use, and to examine students’ toxicity risks awareness influence on CEDs use among secondary school students in Njiru Sub-county, Nairobi. The study was guided by the Availability-Proneness theory of Reginald G, Smart and the Health Believe Model (HBM). The study adopted descriptive research design. Target population was 2905 obtained from the Director of Education in Njiiru SubCounty. Stratified sampling technique was adopted, categorized into two strata. The researcher sampled 300 respondents to take part in the study. The respondents comprised of secondary students from four schools in Njiru subcounty, Nairobi. Data was collected using questionnaires. Pilot testing was carried out at Bondeni secondary school to determine the reliability and validity of the developed research instruments before the actual study. Data captured was be processed and entered into the Social Package for Social Science (SPSS) software, version 25, for analysis. The processed data was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, which included frequencies and percentages, to answer the research questions. Data analysis and interpretation revealed that of the secondary student who participated in the study were aware of some of the three categories of risks associated with CEDs use. The findings of the study also revealed that all the independent variables (psychosocial risks awareness, addictive risks awareness and toxicity risks awareness) have a significant influence on CEDs use among secondary students as they all had a positive regression coefficient. The psychosocial risks awareness had a positive and significant influence with (B=0’516, P=0.000<0’005), addictive risks awareness (B=0.261, P=0.001<0.005) and toxicity risks awareness (B=0.342, P=0.01<0.005) influence on CEDs use among secondary students in Njiru Sub County. The researcher recommends review of Government policy on marketing, sales and clear labelling of CEDs to alert users of the likely risks. In particular inclusion of the warnings on the CEDs containers in the adverts to ensure the users are well warned of the risks and the age restrictions be also clear to both the sellers and buyers. There is need for the Government to standardize recommended caffeine amount consumption per day for adults as they emphasize the age restrictions for CEDs use. .Further recommendation made is need for more studies to create awareness on the use of CEDs among secondary students and even the entire population.