Substance use among rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe: patterns and prevalence.

OBJECTIVE

To survey drug use among rural secondary school students.

DESIGN

Self reported questionnaires developed by the World Health Organisation and translated into Shona were distributed to randomly selected students from 36 schools.

SETTING

Nyanga District secondary schools, Zimbabwe.

SUBJECTS

1,000 secondary school students, males and females, forms one to six.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Demographic variables, prevalence rates, frequency of drug use, first time usage, breakdown by age, sex and school type.

RESULTS

Alcohol was the commonest "ever taken" substance (34.9pc), followed by tobacco (18.5pc), solvents (6.9pc) and cannabis (34.9pc). Frequency of use was low and use of other categories of drugs was negligible.

CONCLUSIONS

Appropriate educational programmes need to be formulated and tailored to meet the needs of rural adolescents.