SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG YOUTH ATTENDING NDEJJE HEALTH CENTRE IV, MAKINDYE DIVISION, WAKISO DISTRICT, A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/4pe2cn10Keywords:
Drug Abuse, Youth, Substance useAbstract
Background
Globally, Substance use among youths and adolescents is a growing major public health concern in Africa with substance use being a key cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in young people; DALY rates in Africa are reported to be 2.5 times higher than in high-income countries. Despite the various side effects caused by substance abuse, there is a paucity of data regarding substance abuse among youths in Uganda. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors contributing to substance abuse among youths attending Ndejje Health Centre IV, Makindye division, Wakiso district.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study involving 298 youths was conducted at Ndejje Health Centre IV, Makindye division using questionnaires. Data was analyzed using SPSS V. 23.0. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were computed, and the results were tabulated and expressed in graphs.
Results
Findings from the study revealed that the prevalence of substance abuse was 61.1%. Most commonly abused substance was alcohol 145(48.7%) followed by sedatives 62(20.8%). Bivariate analysis revealed that socio-demographic factors that were associated with substance abuse were male gender Muslim religion and tertiary education the behavioral factors associated with substance abuse were peer influence substance abuse by either parent or relative and staying with the parents.
Conclusion
Based on the study findings, substance abuse among youths attending Ndejje Health Centre IV is higher than in the previous studies conducted. The most abused substance among these youths is alcohol and the factors associated with substance abuse are both demographic and social in this context.
Recommendation
We therefore recommend the government, parents, and other responsible bodies to introduce health education, especially on substance abuse and its associated bad outcomes.
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