dc.contributor.author | Nyaga, Lydia, N | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2021-01-26T06:40:30Z | |
dc.date.available | 2021-01-26T06:40:30Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2020 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/154142 | |
dc.description.abstract | Introduction: Substance Use Disorder among the adolescent remains a big threat to health and
wellbeing of the individual and the family. Substance abuse affects all age groups but
adolescent individuals are most at risk because of the negative effects substance abuse has on
their physical, psychological, behavioural and social transitions. Caregivers whether a
biological parent or a relative of adolescent with SUD often suffer from unintended physical,
psychological and social consequences of caring for the child who is using illicit drugs. Indeed,
caregivers encounter many untold experiences while parenting an adolescent on substance use.
There is limited documentation of such experiences. A remarkable number of researches have
focused on adolescent substance use and the experiences of adolescents and little attention has
being paid to caregivers. In that respect there is need to explore the experiences these caregivers
undergo as they deal with substance habituated issues rising from their adolescent child.
Main Objective: The research study aimed at exploring “Lived experiences of caregivers of
adolescents diagnosed with substance use disorder”.
Methodology: This was a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with 18 caregivers of
adolescents with SUD conducted at the KNH youth centre focusing on their experiences. Data
collected through in-depth interviews were transcribed and thematically coded. Recurrent
themes were analyzed and reported.
Results: Caregivers’ outcomes encompassed physical, psychological, and social experiences.
Physical manifestations were illnesses such as hypertension and ulcers which directly linked
to the adolescent’s substance abuse. The major psychological strain experience was stress
whereas social impact experiences were manifested as social stigma, social isolation and
rejection. Coping mechanisms adapted by the caregivers were broadly identified as
withdrawing or engaging. Other self-directed coping mechanisms identified were diverse
ranging from singing to crying in order to deal with the stress related to the adolescent’s
substance use disorder.
Conclusion: Caregivers experienced debilitating physical outcomes, lasting psychological
effects as well as difficult social outcomes as a result of substance use by their adolescent child.
While endeavoring to offer continued support in the midst of seemingly insurmountable
obstacles, caregivers adopted coping mechanisms to deal with their situation. Some of which
were directed towards the adolescent such as engaging with the adolescent and others directed
to self, such as singing, keeping busy, keeping to self and crying. This study revealed the
complex landscape of physical, psychological and social turmoil that the caregivers have to
navigate while intervening for their adolescent diagnosed with substance use disorder. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | University of Nairobi | en_US |
dc.rights | Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States | * |
dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ | * |
dc.subject | Lived experiences of Caregivers of adolescents diagnosed with substance use disorder attending Kenyatta National Hospital Youth Centre | en_US |
dc.title | Lived experiences of Caregivers of adolescents diagnosed with substance use disorder attending Kenyatta National Hospital Youth Centre | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.description.department | a
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya | |