Knowledge of Health Effects Of Drug And Substance Use Among Students In Their Second Year At Bindura University Of Science Education
- Author
- Chityeza, Takudzwa
- Title
- Knowledge of Health Effects Of Drug And Substance Use Among Students In Their Second Year At Bindura University Of Science Education
- Abstract
- Globally, over 296million people have been reported to use drugs and substances. This accounted to 5.8% of the total population of the world aged been 15 to 64 years. The use of these drugs and substances has been reported to be associated with an increasing morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The use of substances accounted to 3.3 million deaths each year and 40 million illnesses were associated with use of alcohol and substances. Students in tertiary universities have not been spared with the scourge of the drugs and substances. This research aimed to investigate students’ knowledge on health effects of drug and substance use at Bindura University of Science and Engineering. The study used a descriptive cross sectional study design that employed both qualitative and quantitative research paradigms. A sample of 307 students were recruited in this study that south to investigate the students’ knowledge on health effects of drug and substance use. The study used both questionnaires and interviews as research instruments for data collection. Quantitative analysis used applied descriptive and inferential statistics whereas the qualitative data used the narratives and direct quotes for presenting and analysing this data. The results of the study showed that commonly abused drugs and substances included alcohol, marijuana, Guka and cigarettes. Majority of students had knowledge of the effects of alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes on the health of students. These included mental illnesses such as depression and hallucinations. The risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections was also reported which included HIV/AIDS. The risk of lung cancer and Tuberculosis was associated with use of cigarettes. The study concluded that students had knowledge of the effects of substances on health and recommended that health education be scaled up to stop use of these drugs and substances. The study recommended the development of targeted intervention strategies to address “Guka” as a specific substance ommonly associated with mental disorders.
- Date
- MAY 2024
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Health Effects Of Drug And Substance, BUSE Students
- Supervisor
- NIL
- Item sets
- Department of Health Sciences
