Knowledge of psychoactive drugs and behaviors associated with their use and abuse among secondary school students in Tanzania.
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Date
2004
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
While the problem of drug abuse is increasing, it is not self evident that pupils know most aspects of the drug abuse problem. Knowledge of four clusters of issues relating to drugs, which were: identity of different types of psychoactive drugs; their administration; behavioral consequences associated with their use and abuse; and management of consequences of drug abuse were investigated. Three hundreds and sixty students (63% males and 37% females) responded to a questionnaire designed to find out differences in levels of knowledge across such variables as sex, grade, locality, and family backgrounds. Mean scores, standard deviations and coefficient of variations were computed, and tests of significance were employed to confirm any differences between groups of students. It was found out that the general level of knowledge of the students about drugs was low. Although tests of significance were not performed on performance across clusters of knowledge, students' knowledge about the behavioral consequences of drug use and/or abuse was the lowest. However, a slightly better knowledge among the students was revealed in the cluster about management of drug abuse. Knowledge about the identity of different types of drugs and administration of drugs was particularly low. Boys had significantly higher level of knowledge about the administration of drugs and the behavioral consequences associated with drug abuse than girls. However they were not significantly more knowledgeable about identity of different types of drugs and management of drug abuse than girls. Form four students were found to be significantly more knowledgeable than Form one students in all clusters of knowledge, suggesting that age and education mattered. Surprisingly, rural students were significantly more knowledgeable about the behavioral consequences associated with the use and abuse of drugs than urban students. However, urban students were marginally more knowledgeable about management of drug abuse than their rural counterparts. Students from high class families were significantly more knowledgeable about identity of different types of drugs, behavioral consequences of drug abuse, and management of drug abuse than those from low and middle class families. The level of education of the students' parents had insignificant effect in all clusters of knowledge about drugs. It is concluded that, in general, the level of knowledge of the students about the aspects of drugs investigated was surprisingly low and varied across the selected predictor variables. It was recommended that there should be concerted education campaigns for students to know better about this malaise.
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Keywords
Drug abuse, Youth (Students), Tanzania
Citation
Magong'o, M. (2004). Knowledge of psychoactive drugs and behaviors associated with their use and abuse among secondary school students in Tanzania. Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx?parentpriref=)