Influence Of Drugs And Substance Abuse On Reproductive Health In Gatanga Sub County, Murang’a County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Drug and substance abuse is one of the most critical challenges facing Kenya today and is fast assuming alarming proportions among the young adults. A report on the findings of the 2007 rapid situation assessment of substance abuse in Kenya found that young adults had the highest substance abuse prevalence. This study was motivated by the fact that previous studies on the magnitude and impact of drugs and substance abuse have mainly focused on the youth in learning institutions; yet there is unquestionable evidence of rampant drug use and abuse among the young adults. The main objective of the study was to investigate the influence of drugs and substance abuse on reproductive health in Gatanga Sub County, Murang’a County. The researcher adopted descriptive survey research design. The researcher used questionnaires and interview schedules as instruments of data collection. With a target population of 384 households, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. The questionnaires were administered to 352households’ heads. Interview schedules targeted key informants as well as the focus group discussants. Three focus group discussions, one mixed sex, one for women and one for men were held separately. Data was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Content analysis was used for qualitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed by use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer software version 21.0. Chi square correlation was used to test the hypotheses i.e. assess the degree and nature of association between drugs and substance abuse and marital status, sexual activity and fertility. The results were presented in frequency distribution tables, percentages, figures, pie charts and graphs. The research revealed that the commonly abused drugs included alcohol, cigarettes, bhang and khat. Kiosks/small shops were reported as the main sources of drugs. The study further revealed that easy availability of cheap drugs and substances, peer pressure, unemployment and dysfunctional families contributed to drug abuse. The study further established that drugs and substance abuse is on the increase. This indicates that efforts put in place to fight drugs and substance abuse has not been working effectively. The study therefore recommends that the government comes up with more effective strategies of fighting drugs and substance abuse.