Department of Environment and Health Sciences, Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Embu, Kenya.
Biomed Res Int. 2023 Aug 1;2023:8085588. doi: 10.1155/2023/8085588. eCollection 2023.
Recreational drug use among students in tertiary institutions remains a public health concern. Despite documentation of drug use in Kenyan universities, most of the studies are based on self-reported history which is prone to social desirability bias. It is in this context that we sought to establish lifetime and current drug use among university students. The study investigated self-reported and confirmed drug use. Using proportionate to size and snowball sampling methods, 380 respondents were enrolled from three university campuses. Actual drug use was confirmed qualitatively using a 6 panel plus alcohol saliva test kit. The study participants' median (IQR) age was 22 (20-23) years, and 262 (69%) were male; 328 (86%) were degree-level students, while 127 (33%) were in their fourth year and above. A total of 221 (58%) students reported a lifetime ever use of drugs, while 193 (51%) tested positive for at least one drug. Alcohol, tobacco products (cotinine), marijuana, and amphetamine or khat were the most preferred drugs. The usage was either solely, concurrently, or simultaneously. Having multiple sexual partners compared to students with no sexual partner (adjusted risk ratio (aRR) of 2.33 (95% CI 1.45, 3.76)) and residing in Mishomoroni and Kisauni (aRR 1.50 (95% CI 1.08, 2.09)) were associated with risk of testing positive for any drug. Having one (aRR of 1.54 (95% CI 1.05, 2.26)) and multiple sexual partners (aRR 2.03 (95% CI 1.27, 3.25) and residing in Mishomoroni and Kisauni (aRR 1.48 (95% CI 1.05, 2.08)) were associated with self-reported drug use. One out of two students was currently using drugs. Irrespective of the method used to record data, alcohol, tobacco products, marijuana, and amphetamine or khat were the most preferred drugs. The usage was solely, concurrently, or simultaneously. Future interventions should focus on continuing students, students' residences, and those who are sexually active.
大学生群体中的娱乐性药物使用仍然是一个公共卫生关注点。尽管肯尼亚大学有药物使用的相关记录，但大多数研究都是基于自我报告的历史数据，这容易受到社会期望偏差的影响。正是在这种背景下，我们试图确定大学生的终生和当前药物使用情况。本研究调查了自我报告和确认的药物使用情况。研究使用比例大小和滚雪球抽样方法，从三个大学校园招募了 380 名受访者。使用 6 面板加酒精唾液检测试剂盒定性确认实际药物使用情况。研究参与者的中位（IQR）年龄为 22（20-23）岁，其中 262（69%）为男性；328（86%）为学位水平学生，而 127（33%）在第四年及以上。共有 221（58%）名学生报告有终生使用过药物，而 193（51%）名学生至少有一种药物检测呈阳性。酒精、烟草制品（可替宁）、大麻和安非他命或巧茶是最受欢迎的药物。使用方式要么是单独使用，要么是同时使用，要么是并发使用。与没有性伴侣的学生相比，有多个性伴侣的学生（调整后的风险比（aRR）为 2.33（95%置信区间 1.45，3.76））和居住在米斯莫罗尼和基萨乌尼（aRR 1.50（95%置信区间 1.08，2.09））与任何药物检测呈阳性的风险相关。有一个（aRR 为 1.54（95%置信区间 1.05，2.26））和多个性伴侣（aRR 为 2.03（95%置信区间 1.27，3.25）和居住在米斯莫罗尼和基萨乌尼（aRR 1.48（95%置信区间 1.05，2.08））与自我报告的药物使用有关。每两个学生中就有一个学生目前正在使用药物。无论使用何种方法记录数据，酒精、烟草制品、大麻和安非他命或巧茶都是最受欢迎的药物。使用方式要么是单独使用，要么是同时使用，要么是并发使用。未来的干预措施应侧重于继续学习的学生、学生的居住地以及性活跃的学生。
