IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i7p2401-d339979.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Epidemiology of Alcohol Misuse and Illicit Drug Use Among Young People Aged 15–24 Years in Fishing Communities in Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Monica O. Kuteesa

    (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe 49, Uganda
    Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC 1E, UK)

  • Helen A. Weiss

    (Medical Research Council Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC 1E, UK)

  • Sarah Cook

    (Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC 1E, UK)

  • Janet Seeley

    (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe 49, Uganda
    Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC 1E, UK)

  • Josephine N. Ssentongo

    (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe 49, Uganda)

  • Robert Kizindo

    (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe 49, Uganda)

  • Paul Ngonzi

    (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe 49, Uganda)

  • Moses Sewankambo

    (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe 49, Uganda)

  • Emily L. Webb

    (Medical Research Council Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC 1E, UK)

Abstract

Background: We determined the prevalence of and risk factors for alcohol misuse and illicit drug use among young Ugandans in fishing communities, a recognised “key population” for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among young people (15–24 years) in fishing communities in Koome, Uganda, in December 2017–July 2018. Using Audio-Assisted Self-Interviewing, we collected data on socio-demographic characteristics and alcohol use, including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and timeline follow-back calendar (TLFB). Blood samples were analysed for HIV, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2), and Phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth 16:0/18:1). Urine samples were analysed for illicit drugs. Results: Among 1281 participants (52.7% male, mean age 20 years), 659 (51.4%) reported ever drinking alcohol, 248 (19.4%) had 12-month-AUDIT ≥ 8, and 261 (20.5%) had whole-blood PEth 16:0/18:1 concentration ≥ 20 ng/mL, indicating significant consumption. In multivariable analyses, PEth 16:0/18:1 ≥ 20ng/mL, AUDIT ≥ 8 and binge drinking (≥6 standard drinks per drinking occasion in the previous month from TLFB) were all strongly associated with older age, low education, smoking, and HSV2. Illicit drug use prevalence was 5.2% and was associated with older age, low education, being single, and smoking. Conclusion: Levels of alcohol misuse were high among young people in fishing communities and associated with HSV2, a proxy for risky sexual behaviour. Alcohol and illicit drug harm reduction services and HIV prevention programs in Uganda should prioritise young fisherfolk.

Suggested Citation

  • Monica O. Kuteesa & Helen A. Weiss & Sarah Cook & Janet Seeley & Josephine N. Ssentongo & Robert Kizindo & Paul Ngonzi & Moses Sewankambo & Emily L. Webb, 2020. "Epidemiology of Alcohol Misuse and Illicit Drug Use Among Young People Aged 15–24 Years in Fishing Communities in Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:7:p:2401-:d:339979
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/7/2401/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/7/2401/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Helen A. Weiss & Judith Vandepitte & Justine N. Bukenya & Yunia Mayanja & Susan Nakubulwa & Anatoli Kamali & Janet Seeley & Heiner Grosskurth, 2016. "High Levels of Persistent Problem Drinking in Women at High Risk for HIV in Kampala, Uganda: A Prospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Joel M Francis & Helen A Weiss & Gerry Mshana & Kathy Baisley & Heiner Grosskurth & Saidi H Kapiga, 2015. "The Epidemiology of Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorders among Young People in Northern Tanzania," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jincong Yu & Qingfeng Wu & Yuqin Wu & Jiang Li & Qinxuan Wu & Huiping Cao & Zengzhen Wang, 2021. "Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Club Drug Use among Secondary Vocational Students in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-11, October.
    2. Yunia Mayanja & Onesmus Kamacooko & Daniel Bagiire & Gertrude Namale & Janet Seeley, 2020. "Epidemiological Findings of Alcohol Misuse and Dependence Symptoms among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Involved in High-Risk Sexual Behavior in Kampala, Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yunia Mayanja & Onesmus Kamacooko & Daniel Bagiire & Gertrude Namale & Janet Seeley, 2020. "Epidemiological Findings of Alcohol Misuse and Dependence Symptoms among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Involved in High-Risk Sexual Behavior in Kampala, Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Joel M. Francis & Anders Helander & Saidi H. Kapiga & Helen A. Weiss & Heiner Grosskurth, 2015. "Validation of the MINI (DSM IV) Tool for the Assessment of Alcohol Dependence among Young People in Northern Tanzania Using the Alcohol Biomarker Phosphatidylethanol (PEth)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Zhou, Yu & Denis Nkomola, Pauline & Xue, Qi & Li, Xin & Xie, Xinyan & Hou, Fang & Gu, Huaiting & Song, Ranran, 2020. "Health risk behaviors and suicide attempt among adolescents in China and Tanzania: A school-based study of countries along the belt and road," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    4. Dr. Bundotich Sarah & Dr. Caroline Wakoli & Dr Lilian C. Kimaiyo-Kapkoi, 2022. "Influence of Alcohol and substance use on the psychosocial wellbeing among of the adolescents and the young people. A Cse of Eldoret Town and its environs: Uasin Gishu County, Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 6(9), pages 377-385, September.
    5. Hanne Ochieng Lichtwarck & Method Rwelengera Kazaura & Kåre Moen & Elia John Mmbaga, 2022. "Harmful Alcohol Use and Associated Socio-Structural Factors among Female Sex Workers Initiating HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Emmanuel Peprah & Bronwyn Myers & Andre-Pascal Kengne & Nasheeta Peer & Omar El-Shahawy & Temitope Ojo & Barbara Mukasa & Oliver Ezechi & Juliet Iwelunmor & Nessa Ryan & Fatoumata Sakho & John Patena , 2022. "Using a Syndemics Framework to Understand How Substance Use Contributes to Morbidity and Mortality among People Living with HIV in Africa: A Call to Action," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, January.
    7. Monica H. Swahn & Rachel Culbreth & Laura F. Salazar & Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye & David H. Jernigan & Rogers Kasirye & Isidore S. Obot, 2020. "The Prevalence and Context of Alcohol Use, Problem Drinking and Alcohol-Related Harm among Youth Living in the Slums of Kampala, Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-16, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:7:p:2401-:d:339979. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.