National Research Foundation, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
Substance Abuse and Population Mental Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0204, South Africa.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Mar 30;19(7):4097. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19074097.
Substance abuse brings major negative social and health impacts in South Africa. Nyaope, a cocktail drug commonly used in the Tshwane townships, has been well documented to be highly addictive and very difficult to quit. The resultant difficulties include financial, social, and mental, specifically depression and anxiety. This study aims to quantify the depression levels among family members with nyaope users in Tshwane, South Africa. The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design to collect data in nine Tshwane communities. The patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) screening tool and demographic data collection questionnaires were used to collect data from a sample of 390 male and female family members who included mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, partners, and siblings of nyaope users, and who share a home with them. The ages of the participants ranged from 18 to 87 years, with a mean age of 47 years, while the ages of the nyaope users ranged from 17 to 55 years, with a mean age of 30 years. Depression scores ranged from 0 to 27 with a mean of 7. Depressive symptoms, as measured by the PHQ-9 scores of 5 and above, were reported by 49% of the sample. The levels of depression symptoms ranged from mild to severe, and the severity was higher among female, unemployed, and single participants. As with many others, these participants were not diagnosed and therefore were not treated. The study, therefore, identified that living with nyaope users is associated with the development of different levels of depression symptoms and has resulted in reduced quality of life among family members. The study recommends interventions that intentionally focus on families who live with individuals who are addicted to nyaope. Those interventions should focus on screening and treatment of depression and other mental disorders.
物质滥用给南非带来了重大的负面社会和健康影响。Nyaope 是一种在茨瓦内镇常用的鸡尾酒药物，已被充分证明具有高度成瘾性，且极难戒除。由此产生的困难包括经济、社会和心理方面的困难，特别是抑郁和焦虑。本研究旨在量化南非茨瓦内有 nyaope 使用者的家庭成员的抑郁水平。该研究采用定量横断面设计，在九个茨瓦内社区收集数据。使用患者健康问卷-9（PHQ-9）筛选工具和人口统计学数据收集问卷，从包括母亲、父亲、祖父母、阿姨、叔叔、伴侣和兄弟姐妹在内的 390 名男性和女性家庭成员中抽取样本，这些家庭成员与 nyaope 使用者同住一屋。参与者的年龄从 18 岁到 87 岁不等，平均年龄为 47 岁，而 nyaope 使用者的年龄从 17 岁到 55 岁不等，平均年龄为 30 岁。抑郁评分范围从 0 到 27，平均为 7。有 49%的样本报告 PHQ-9 评分在 5 分及以上，存在抑郁症状。抑郁症状的严重程度从轻度到重度不等，女性、失业和单身参与者的严重程度更高。和许多其他人一样，这些参与者没有被诊断出来，因此也没有得到治疗。该研究因此确定，与 nyaope 使用者生活在一起与不同程度的抑郁症状的发展有关，并导致家庭成员的生活质量下降。该研究建议采取干预措施，有针对性地关注与沉迷于 nyaope 的个体生活在一起的家庭。这些干预措施应侧重于对抑郁和其他精神障碍进行筛查和治疗。
