Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
PLoS One. 2022 Sep 9;17(9):e0268961. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268961. eCollection 2022.
Substance use amongst adolescents remains a global public health challenge. The potential negative health outcomes of substance use suggest the need to understand the pattern of use and the associated factors among adolescents. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of substance use, SUDs, and PD and the associated factors in adolescent learners at public schools in Gaborone, Botswana.
A cross-sectional study was conducted at 13 public secondary schools in Gaborone among 742 students. Assessment tools included the World Health Organization drug questionnaire, DSM-5 interview for SUD, and the General Health Questionnaire-12.
The mean age (SD) of the participants was 15.26 (1.57) years, and there were more females (55.5%). Over two-fifths (44.6%) of learners reported psychoactive substance use in the past 12 months, and 31.5% meeting DSM 5 criteria for a SUD. Alcohol was the most used psychoactive substance (25.1%). Male gender (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.26-2.995), having a friend (AOR = 4.27; 95% CI: 2.68-6.78), or father (AOR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.14-3.04), who uses substance, and higher levels of PD (AOR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03-1.17) remained significantly associated with SUD. Regular participation in religious activities negatively correlated with SUD (AOR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.38-0.96).
The high prevalence of substance use and SUDs among in-school adolescents is concerning. Substance use programs need to include family-focused and religious-based therapy and youth empowerment in developing positive peer relationships. Also, they should be integrated with mental health screening to assess comorbid PD.
青少年物质使用仍然是全球公共卫生挑战。物质使用可能带来的潜在负面健康后果表明，有必要了解青少年的使用模式和相关因素。本研究旨在描述博茨瓦纳哈博罗内公立学校青少年的物质使用、物质使用障碍和物质使用障碍和相关因素的流行情况。
在哈博罗内的 13 所公立中学对 742 名学生进行了横断面研究。评估工具包括世界卫生组织药物问卷、DSM-5 物质使用障碍访谈和一般健康问卷-12。
参与者的平均年龄（SD）为 15.26（1.57）岁，女性居多（55.5%）。超过五分之二（44.6%）的学习者报告在过去 12 个月内使用过精神活性物质，31.5%符合 DSM 5 物质使用障碍标准。酒精是最常使用的精神活性物质（25.1%）。男性（AOR = 1.94；95%CI：1.26-2.995）、有朋友（AOR = 4.27；95%CI：2.68-6.78）或父亲（AOR = 1.87；95%CI：1.14-3.04）使用物质，以及较高水平的物质使用障碍（AOR = 1.09；95%CI：1.03-1.17）与物质使用障碍显著相关。定期参加宗教活动与物质使用障碍呈负相关（AOR = 0.61；95%CI：0.38-0.96）。
在校青少年物质使用和物质使用障碍的高患病率令人担忧。物质使用项目需要包括以家庭为中心和以宗教为基础的治疗以及增强青少年权力，以建立积极的同伴关系。此外，还应将其与心理健康筛查相结合，以评估共病物质使用障碍。
