Goedele M Louwagie1, Edwin Wouters2, Olalekan A Ayo-Yusuf3. 1. School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. goedele.louwagie@up.ac.za. 2. Department of Sociology and Research Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; and Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 3. School of Oral Health Sciences, University of Limpopo MEDUNSA campus, South Africa; School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether social support and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between poverty and substance use in tuberculosis (TB) patients in South Africa. METHODS: We performed structural equation modeling with the latent constructs socioeconomic status (SES), social support and "substance use" (tobacco smoking, alcohol problem, illicit drug use) in 1005 male TB patients. RESULTS: Higher SES directly (standardized coefficient= -0.27) and indirectly reduced substance use. Indirectly SES provided increased social support (coefficient=0.37), which was associated with reduced substance use (coefficient=-0.15). Higher SES diminished depressive symptoms. Model fit was acceptable. Separate models for tobacco smoking, illicit drug use or alcohol problem produced similar findings. CONCLUSIONS: Poverty alleviation and social support-based interventions may benefit male TB patients with substance use.
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether social support and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between poverty and substance use in tuberculosis (TB) patients in South Africa. METHODS: We performed structural equation modeling with the latent constructs socioeconomic status (SES), social support and "substance use" (tobacco smoking, alcohol problem, illicit drug use) in 1005 male TB patients. RESULTS: Higher SES directly (standardized coefficient= -0.27) and indirectly reduced substance use. Indirectly SES provided increased social support (coefficient=0.37), which was associated with reduced substance use (coefficient=-0.15). Higher SES diminished depressive symptoms. Model fit was acceptable. Separate models for tobacco smoking, illicit drug use or alcohol problem produced similar findings. CONCLUSIONS: Poverty alleviation and social support-based interventions may benefit male TB patients with substance use.
Authors: Anne Lia Cremers; René Gerrets; Nathan Kapata; Austin Kabika; Emma Birnie; Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch; Martin P Grobusch Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2016-10-28 Impact factor: 3.295