Department of Population Studies, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Uganda Harm Reduction Network, Kampala, Uganda.
Subst Use Misuse. 2022;57(10):1545-1551. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2022.2096234. Epub 2022 Jul 21.
Illicit drug use is a global public health problem with grave health and socio-economic consequences. Related intoxication has been associated with accidental injuries and fatalities. In Uganda, 67% of road traffic accidents are attributed to motorcyclists. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of illicit drug use among commercial motorcyclists in Uganda, using a cross-sectional survey research design. We interviewed 785 commercial motorcyclists in the divisions of Nakawa, Rubaga, Makindye, and Kawempe of Kampala district. We used an on-spot saliva drug test kit to screen and detect the presence of illicit drugs. Data were analyzed using frequency distributions, cross tabulations and multi variable logistic regression. Findings show that 11% of the cyclists used illicit drugs. The use of illicit drugs was associated with division of operation, religiosity, and whether a cyclist resided with a family. The odds of use of illicit drugs were higher among cyclists from Nakawa division compared to cyclists from Kawempe. Cyclists who went to places of worship on a weekly basis compared to those who were less frequent, and cyclists who lived with their families compared to those who did not, had reduced odds of use of illicit drugs. There are variations in the distribution of cyclists that use illicit drugs in Kampala. Religious commitment and residence with families had a mitigating influence on illicit drug use among commercial cyclists. Illicit drug use prevention, treatment, and harm reduction programs among cyclists should collaborate with faith-based organizations and other key stakeholders, and promote stable family relations.
非法药物使用是一个全球性的公共卫生问题，对健康和社会经济都有严重影响。相关的中毒已与意外受伤和死亡有关。在乌干达，67%的道路交通事故归因于摩托车手。本研究采用横断面调查研究设计，评估了乌干达商业摩托车手非法药物使用的流行率和决定因素。我们在坎帕拉区的纳卡瓦、鲁巴加、马金迪耶和卡温佩分区采访了 785 名商业摩托车手。我们使用现场唾液药物检测试剂盒进行筛查和检测非法药物的存在。数据使用频率分布、交叉表和多变量逻辑回归进行分析。结果表明，11%的骑手使用了非法药物。使用非法药物与经营分区、宗教信仰和骑手是否与家人同住有关。与来自卡温佩分区的骑手相比，来自纳卡瓦分区的骑手使用非法药物的几率更高。每周去礼拜场所的骑手与不太频繁去礼拜场所的骑手相比，以及与不与家人同住的骑手相比，使用非法药物的几率较低。坎帕拉的骑手分布存在差异，有些骑手使用非法药物。宗教信仰和与家人同住对商业摩托车手的非法药物使用有减轻影响。非法药物使用预防、治疗和减少伤害计划应与基于信仰的组织和其他利益相关者合作，并促进稳定的家庭关系。
