African Journal of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (AJADA)
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Perceptions on quality of life among persons recovering from alcohol use in Kirinyaga County, Kenya.
Full text linkDrugs and alcohol abuse impairs an individual’s ability to live a normal life. These problems relate to all spheres of life; physical and mental health, social and economic. With rehabilitation it is expected that these aspects of quality of life will improve. However, majority of the studies have largely focused on abstinence as the rehabilitation outcome. This study aimed at establishing the perceptions of quality of life among persons recovering from alcoholism after presidential crackdown and subsequent rehabilitation in Kirinyaga County. The study utilized a descriptive survey. The study population was drawn from persons attending community support groups established after presidential crackdown on illicit brew and subsequent rehabilitation. A multi-stage purposive sampling method was utilized to get eleven (11) support groups and one hundred and forty-one (141) respondents. A Questionnaire and a focus group discussions were utilized to collect data. Abstinence was measured using Recovering Addicts Adherence Scale (RAAS) which was adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale. Perceptions of quality of life outcomes were measured using Recovering Addict’s Quality of Life Scale (RAQOLS) which was adapted from the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). Data collected was coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 and analysed using descriptive statistics. The study findings revealed favourable perceptions of quality of life in all the four domains. Physical health was rated moderate while social health was rated highly. This can be attributed to the support groups which emphasized on empowerment of the recovering persons and abstinence. Favourable rates of abstinence can also be attributed to improved quality of life. The implication to treatment is that domains of quality of life need to be emphasized during treatment process for the ultimate goal of rehabilitation to be achieved
Innovations and Opportunities In Social Media For Management Of Drug And Substance Abuse In Selected Informal Settlements of Nairobi County, Kenya
Full text linkAccording to the World Drug Report in 2016, there is an increasing availability of many kinds of drugs to the youth. Researchers have conducted minimal studies on the consequences social media has on Drug and Substance abuse among the youth. This research is a crosssectional descriptive design to analyze the innovations and opportunities in Social Media for management of drug abuse in informal settlements in Nairobi County. The study is based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) where by individuals determine their own behavior and the Community Readiness Model which modifies social contexts to support the desired behavior. The study population was youth within Kayole North, Kayole South and Mukuru kwa Njenga slums. For this study purposive sampling, snowballing and systematic random sampling approaches were adopted. Purposive sampling was used to identify groups for the survey and was generated by focusing on the 32 groups with a membership of 460. The sample size was 210 respondents who were distributed proportionately to the selected study area(s).30 key informants from the study area were recruited. Interview guides were used to collect data from key informants and questionnaires from youth and their leaders. Qualitatively, data was described whereas quantitatively, descriptive statistics including standard deviation and frequency distribution tables were used. Multiple Regression and ANOVA were used to analyze data quantitatively. The researcher summarized the findings from the variables in each objective and the prevention strategies. Marijuana smoking in slums at 73% is the most prevalent. The youth aged 18 to 24 years have the highest levels of drug abuse rates at 73.5%. WhatsApp is the widely used social media at 54%.23.2% of the respondents agreed that social media strategies adopted had effect on prevention of drug and substance abuse in the informal settlements of Nairobi County. Government should encourage youth to use social media in a beneficial manner
Hierarchy of Help Model in Addiction
Full text linkPeople suffering from addiction are usually conceived as living in denial of their addiction and are not usually ready to be helped. In contrary, the Hierarchy of Help Model by Joyzy Pius Egunjobi shows that persons with addiction do make effort to help themselves before seeking the help of others. The Hierarchy of Help Model is presented with the four hierarchical stages and in relations the Transtheoretical Model or Stages of Change Model of James O. Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente. The two models are integrated to foster better understanding of help seeking and stages of change in addiction treatment. This work concluded that the people with addiction ask for help not because they have not tried to help themselves. They ask for help because they are aware that they cannot do this on their own. Blaming, nagging, and scolding are not what they need supports and encouragements
Communication and Addiction
Full text linkCommunication is key to many problem-solving situations especially in relating with and supporting the persons with addiction through their recovery. Learning the skills of effective communication is imperative not only for the caregivers of the person with addiction but for the recovering person with addiction her/himself. This article examined the relationship between communication and addiction. It concluded that the importance of effective communication in the understanding and treatment of addiction as well as in interacting with the person with addiction cannot be overlooked. Also, that, treating addiction will involve the person with addiction learning to communicate effectively and the addiction professionals and family members doing the sam
Public Health in Urban Spaces; Vulnerability of Youth to Drug Abuse in Nairobi’s Mukuru Kwa Njenga Informal Settlements, Kenya
Full text linkRising urban population, deprivation, Poverty, shifting family practices and lack of opportunities for young people are widely recognized as key factors influencing the increasing indulgence of young people in crime and drug abuse (UN Habitat, 2007). The study sought to assess the vulnerability of youth in slums to drugs; specifically, Mukuru Kwa Njenga in Nairobi. The study is based on Vested Interest Theory (VIT). The interests of the individual postulate that an attitude toward objects allows for a number of responses and courses of action, in order to balance motivation and decision to behave in an efficient fashion. This research is a cross-sectional descriptive design to assess the vulnerability of youth in slums to drugs and more specifically Mukuru Kwa Njenga in Nairobi The study population was the youth both in and out of school in Mukuru kwa Njenga informal settlements. For this study purposive sampling, snowballing and simple random sampling approach were adopted. The sample size was 210 respondents derived following Krejcie and Morgan formula (1970) from a target population of 460. Thirty key informants from the study area were recruited. Interviews were used to collect data from key informants and questionnaires from youth and their leaders. Qualitatively, data was given in form of text whereas quantitatively, descriptive statistics including standard deviation and frequency distribution were used to describe given samples. ANOVA and Chi square were used to analyze data quantitatively. Cannabis (Bhang) is the most abused substance with 50% of the youth in the slums smoking it
Theatre as a Campaign Tool against Drug and Substance Abuse in Selected Kenyan Schools Plays.
Full text linkThe Kenya National Drama Festival Committee, the organizers of the National Schools, Colleges and Universities Drama Festival usually enters into a sponsorship agreement with other institutions to help in disseminating certain messages through drama. One of these institutions is the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug and Substance and Alcohol Abuse (NACADA). NACADA has sponsored a number of editions of the Festival in the hope that participants will be sensitized through the performances on the need for demand reduction and supply suppression of alcohol and drugs use. The event targets mostly the youth in Kenya who are said to be at the highest risk of becoming victims of drug and substance abuse. The youth are mostly in schools. This article interrogates some of the plays presented at this festival and their agency at advocating the NACADA course. Specifically, it seeks to respond to the following questions; how are the plays structured to communicate supply suppression and demand reduction? What qualities are assigned to characters so that they act as campaign agents and how are the plays designed to signpost the dangers of drugs and substance abuse? How have they been used for supply suppression and demand reduction of consumption of drug and substances? What are the challenges that this sensitization campaign faced and how can they be overcomed
Effects of Environment and Parenting Practices on Alcohol Use among Primary School Pupils in Kenya
Full text linkAlcohol remains one of the most widely used substances among early and late adolescent youth. Underage drinking and its associated problems have profound negative consequences for underage drinkers themselves, their families, their communities, and society as a whole. Studies have shown that exposure to alcohol in adolescence can have detrimental effects on brain development and intellectual capabilities, and increases the likelihood for later alcohol dependence. The study aimed to determine the effects of environment and parenting practices on alcohol use among primary school pupils in Kenya. The study used a cross-sectional design covering primary schools from all the eight regions of Kenya. The study employed purposive, proportionate and random sampling methods. A total of 3,307 primary school pupils from 177 primary schools nationally were interviewed representing a response rate of 82.7%. According to the findings 51.8% of the pupils interviewed were male while 48.2% were female. Data showed that 7.2% of primary school pupils were lifetime users of alcohol. Findings revealed that home environment, school environment and parenting were significant correlates of lifetime alcohol use. The study therefore concluded that prevention programs targeting primary school going children in Kenya require a multi-pronged approach. The study underscores the importance of integrating prevention programs with targeted interventions with focus on the home environment, school environment and positive parenting practices in order to achieve delayed onset or abstinence to alcohol use
A qualitative study exploring the views on tobacco use and cessation support among patients in Kenya
Full text linkTobacco use adversely affects the health of users, making hospitals a good place to introduce tobacco cessation efforts. However, most healthcare providers do not offer cessation support. This study sought to explore the views on tobacco use and cessation support among patients in Kenya. A qualitative approach was used. 19 patients were selected from various health facilities in Nairobi and Kisumu using purposive and snowball sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted by staff trained in qualitative interviewing between May 2017 and October 2017. The interviews were recorded and transcribed in their respective languages. Data management was done using Vivo version 10 software and analysed using content analysis method. Findings from this study revealed the following: Awareness regarding harmful effects: Participants were of view that tobacco use causes cancer, respiratory problems, impotence, lack of sleep and appetite and discoloration of the teeth. Lack of awareness regarding tobacco cessation clinics and lack of tobacco cessation interventions: Participants mentioned lack of awareness about any institutions which provide tobacco cessation services. Others mentioned that they had not been offered any support to quit; very few had been asked about their tobacco use status. Quitting tobacco use challenges: Respiratory problems, headache, lack of sleep and appetite, urge to smoke and the smell of smoke were the key challenges. Motivating factors to quit: Religion, support from family and friends, poor health condition, less availability of tobacco products and financial problems were the factors cited. Need for enhanced tobacco control: need for more awareness campaigns about harmful effects of tobacco use, provision of more tobacco cessation services, and implementing policies such as banning tobacco and increasing tax. There is need for multi-disciplinary efforts in Kenya to enhance tobacco control through awareness campaigns and integrating accessible and affordable tobacco cessation services within healthcare facilities
Relationship Between Recovering Alcoholics Characteristics And Development Of Competencies In Rehabilitation Facilities In Central And Nairobi Regions
Full text linkThe assessment of an alcoholic’s commitment for his actions of abusing alcohol is a critical step in determining whether the person suffers from some kind of condition that weakens their capacity to regulate their own actions. Addiction to alcohol weakens the capacity to align actions with a person’s own assessment of issues. An understanding of how the characteristics of recovering alcoholics influence the development of their competencies during rehabilitation is therefore key to their reintegration into society. This study adopted behavioural, Adlerian and person centred theories as a theoretical framework, and employed the expost-facto correlational research design with an accessible population of 202 recovering alcoholics and 81 addiction counsellors in 17 rehabilitation facilities in Central and Nairobi regions employing the 12 step facilitation approach. Census sampling method was used for the addiction counsellors with the entire population participating in the study. A sample size of 134 respondents calculated using Yamane simplified formula was used for the recovering alcoholics. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire for the recovering alcoholics and addiction counsellors. The instruments were validated and adjustments done after the pilot study, while reliability was determined using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient at 0.747. The data was analyzed using the IBM statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Pearson correlations were used to test the relationship between the dependent variable (recovering alcoholics’ competencies) and the independent variable (alcoholics’ characteristics). Recovering alcoholics competencies was established to be statistically significant at p=0.000<0.05 with a moderate positive association (r=0.580). The study established that salient indictors observed to facilitate development of competencies among the recovering alcoholics that would require focus during therapy include belief in God and other spirituality aspects, self-will to change and acceptance of alcoholic status as well as sharing of their story during group therapy. These factors may provide support and direction and aid in development of a resilient determination in life among recovering alcoholics
Relationship Between Attachment Styles And Risk For Problematic Drug Use Among Undergraduate Students In Selected Universities In Kenya
Full text linkProblematic drug use among university students has serious consequences on their overall wellbeing, has potential to inhibit successful transition to the work force, and could predicate substance related problems later in life. Problematic drug use impacts socioeconomic development by affecting potentially skilled work force and increasing the burdens of both the healthcare and the criminal justice systems. Whereas many studies have been conducted among students in universities in Kenya, most ignore the multidimensional underlying factors including behaviour, attitudes and motivations, that influence propensity to problematic drug use. This study was designed to determine whether there is a significant difference in the risk for problematic drug use among students with different attachment styles. Attachment style here refers to the socioemotional behavioural systems that guide how individuals manage their needs for emotional security. Attachment styles thus play an important role in how people self-adapt. The study employed a correlational research design using self-administered questionnaires to collect information on both attachment style and drug use. A sample of 400 respondents was selected from four universities, two public and two privates, located in Nairobi and Kiambu counties. Statistical analysis of the findings of the study showed significant correlation between attachment styles and problematic drug use, meaning that individuals who manifest anxious attachment style have a higher risk for problematic drug use. This finding has a major implication of prevention and treatment of problematic drug use since effectiveness is to a major degree predicated on an individual’s attachment pattern