Effect Of Substance Abuse On Quality Of Life Among The Youth Of East Ayawaso Municipal (Nima/Maamobi) In The Greater Accra Region Of Ghana.

Abstract

Background: Studies on substance abuse have shown that various age groups of people abuse several drugs. Currently, youth in both developed and developing nations have experienced an increase in substance misuse. The accessibility, affordability and consumption of abused drugs by the youth have attracted great concern among public health practitioners. It is recognized that substance abuse among the youth has a severe effect on their quality of life. It also has a great impact on the physical, cognitive and intellectual development of those who use it. There is limited documentation on factors influencing substance abuse and how substance abuse influence quality of life among the youth in Greater Accra, Ghana. Objective. This present work is aimed at determining the factors influencing substance abuse and the quality of life among the youth of Nima and Maamobi of Ayawaso East Municipality. Methods: The research adopted a case- control study design that is incomparable. Using a respondent – driven sampling technique, a self-administered questionnaire was used 10 collect data from a total of 354 (118 cases and 236 controls) selected among Nima and Maamobi youth. Statistical Analysis: Quality of life was evaluated on a continuous scale using composite score analysis base on the Likert scale items that were used to measure the quality of life (WHO BRIEF). To determine the relationship between substance abuse and quality of life among the youth of Nima/Maamobi, the multivariable ordinary least square regression analysis was used. For heavily skewed quality of life distribution quantile regression analysis was used. Bivariate analysis of factors associated with drug abuse was conducted using either the Chi. square test of Independence and the Fisher's exact test where appropriate. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to invest factors associated with substance abuse (socio-demographic, socio-cultural and socio-economic). Results: The teenagers who abused drop had a reduction in their quality of life of 37.2 percentage points relative to the comparison group (youth who do not abuse drugs). Factors associated with substance abuse included broken homes, peer pressure, poor parent-to-ward relationships availability and low cost of abused drugs and poor child upbringing. Conclusion: Most participants were males and Junior High school graduates. It was observed that socio-demographic, socio-cultural and economic factors have related effects on substance abuse and the individual's quality of life. Therefore it is recommended that rehabilitation centers should be located in the different health facilities especially in those areas that are prone to substance abuse. This is to assist to minimize the situation. Regular seminars on quality family leadership should be held.