Determinants of the prevalence of drug and substance abuse amongst Youth in institutions of Higher learning in Mombasa County

Abstract

Drug and substance abuse is one of the major public health issues throughout the world that is causing serious social and economical burden to different nations. Everywhere the target group is the young population between the ages of 18 to 30 years who are preparing, or are already enrolled in various institutions of higher learning. The objective of this study was to explore determinants of the prevalence of drug and substance abuse amongst youth in institutions of higher learning in Mombasa County. The specific objectives were to establish how family factors influence the prevalence of drug and substance abuse, to scrutinize how socio-economic factors influence the prevalence of drug and substance abuse, to assess how peer relationships influence the prevalence of drug and substance abuse and establish how school-related factors influence the prevalence of drug and substance abuse amongst youth in institutions of higher learning in Mombasa county with focus on KMTC-Port Reitz Campus, Mombasa polytechnic University and UON Mombasa campus. The research problem was studied through the use of a descriptive research design. Through random sampling, 340 students from KMTC-Port Reitz Campus, Mombasa polytechnic University and Nairobi University were selected out of a total of 2977. The study employed primary data where data collection was conducted through a selfadministered questionnaire. Data was collected quantitatively and it was analyzed by descriptive analysis technique and chi square. The study employed a descriptive survey research design which resulted in the following findings: Lack of direction and purpose in life, lack of monitoring, rejection, isolation and spiritual emptiness, socio-economic status, cost of drugs, parent's level of education and family size, peer grouping, exposure to drug by friends, low self esteem and exposure to drug by sexual partner, poor labor-market productivity, unconcerned school administrations, general performance in school and potential to increase academic attainment were independent variables that ultimately affected prevalence of drugs and substance abuse. Therefore, the study concluded that indeed family factors, socio-economic factors, peer relationships and school factors were determinants of prevalence of drugs and substance abuse amongst youth in institutions of higher learning in Mombasa County.