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.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5964]