N Khan1, R Arnott. 1. Department of Educational Foundations, University of Zimbabwe.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To survey drug use among rural secondary school students. DESIGN: Self reported questionnaires developed by the World Health Organisation and translated into Shona were distributed to randomly selected students from 36 schools. SETTING: Nyanga District secondary schools, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS: 1,000 secondary school students, males and females, forms one to six. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic variables, prevalence rates, frequency of drug use, first time usage, breakdown by age, sex and school type. RESULTS: Alcohol was the commonest "ever taken" substance (34.9pc), followed by tobacco (18.5pc), solvents (6.9pc) and cannabis (34.9pc). Frequency of use was low and use of other categories of drugs was negligible. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate educational programmes need to be formulated and tailored to meet the needs of rural adolescents.
OBJECTIVE: To survey drug use among rural secondary school students. DESIGN: Self reported questionnaires developed by the World Health Organisation and translated into Shona were distributed to randomly selected students from 36 schools. SETTING: Nyanga District secondary schools, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS: 1,000 secondary school students, males and females, forms one to six. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic variables, prevalence rates, frequency of drug use, first time usage, breakdown by age, sex and school type. RESULTS:Alcohol was the commonest "ever taken" substance (34.9pc), followed by tobacco (18.5pc), solvents (6.9pc) and cannabis (34.9pc). Frequency of use was low and use of other categories of drugs was negligible. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate educational programmes need to be formulated and tailored to meet the needs of rural adolescents.