Mental health and substance abuse problems among Juvenile offenders at Getathuru children reception center & rehabilitation school Nairobi; Kenya
Abstract
Background: Researchers, clinicians, and juvenile justice program
administrators have known of the link between drug use (alcohol use), mental
health problems and juvenile crime. In many communities, the majorities of
juveniles currently entering the justice system are drug users or have mental
health problems
Objective: This study provides an overview of the prevalence, diagnosis of
mentaldisorders among juvenile offenders at Getathuru children reception centre
& rehabilitation school Nairobi; Kenya.
METHODS: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey of all sentenced
adolescents ages 13-18 years incarcerated at Getathuru child ren reception
centre & rehabilitation school. The selected sample constituted adolescents who
answered questions objectively without help of their guardian by filling out Sociodemographic,
reason who admission at the centre and MINI KID questionnaires
RESULTS: Most (54.6%) of the youth were admitted at the centre for care and
protection. The prevalence of mental disorders among these juvenile offenders
varied significantly in the rates of prevalence found, with results showing that this
population had high rates of mental disorders; 41.2% had major depressive
disorder current episode, 22.7% had high suicide risk behaviour, 81.4% had Post
Traumatic stress disorder current 27.8% had alcohol dependence and 41.2%
drug dependence. The identification of mood disorders is critical because these
disorders are a leading cause of suicide among adolescents and because mood
disorders may contribute to or exacerbate delinquent and disruptive behaviors
Citation
Master of Science in Clinical psychologySponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Department of psychiatry School of medicine University of Nairobi