Prevalence of Substance Use and Disorder Amongst Inpatients in Kitui County Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya

Abstract

Introduction: Failure to detect the dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and medical conditions has been noted in various studies to lead to chronicity of the illness. Substance use disorder can be an underlying problem that eventually complicates the process of medical diagnosis and management leading to long hospital stays and chronicity of illness. Research is scarce regarding the screening of patients in hospitals especially inpatients for substance use, and this study aimed at filling that gap. Background: Substance use disorder as a medical condition leads to distress and impairment (Thomas & Price, 2016). The possibility that a momentous share of patients attending general healthcare for other medical conditions also suffer from substance use disorder means that substance use and its implications must be recognized and accordingly managed. Objectives Broad objective: The overall objective is to establish the prevalence of substance use and disorder among inpatients at Kitui County Teaching and Referral Hospital. Specific objectives: 1. To determine the prevalence of substance use among inpatients in the Kitui County Teaching and Referral Hospital. 2. To determine the prevalence of substance use disorder among inpatients in the Kitui County Teaching and Referral Hospital. 3. To identify the substances used by inpatients at the Kitui County Teaching and Referral Hospital. 4. To examine the associated socio-demographic characteristics of these patients. Methodology: It was a quantitative cross-sectional study conducted among inpatients at the Kitui County Teaching and Referral Hospital. Purposive sampling was used to sample the participants. A researcher designed a sociodemographic questionnaire and modified ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking, and 6 Substance Involvement Screening) was used to collect information from the respondents. The sample size was 131 respondents with 100% response rate. Relationships between the variables was determined by Pearson's Chi-square (p-value). Data from the findings was evaluated using SPSS and the results presented using charts, tables, and narratives. Results: Out of 131 respondents, 59 (45%) reported using the substance in the past two months. Alcohol was said to be the most used substance at 42.7%. Most users had a substance use disorder at 45% Conclusions 1. Of the 131 inpatients who participated in the study, 68 of them (51.9 %) reported lifetime substance use, and 59 (45%) of them were found to have substance use and a further 45% had substance use disorder with most of the respondents with a disorder having a moderate substance use disorder 2. Alcohol (42.7%) and tobacco (33.6%) were found to be the most used substances among the inpatients. Recommendations 1. Almost half of the inpatients in the facility at any given time have a substance use disorder. Healthcare workers should screen for substance use and disorders as this will lead to early diagnosis and wholistic patient management 2. Further research to explain the relationship between self-employment and substance use and disorder as this finding contradicted previous study findings.