Epidemiological study of drug use in urban and rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe

An epidemiological survey of drug abuse among Zimbabwe's secondary school going youthsIn this survey a total of2 783 secondary school students of both sexes, mean age 15,5 years, from randomly selected schools in both rural and urban areas of Zimbabwe were studied using a self report questionnaire. The results strongly indicated that drug use was quite prevalent among the students. The main drugs involved, in descending order, were: alcohol, tobacco, inhalants (solvents), amphetamines and cannabis. Others included mandrax, tranquilisers, sedatives and the hallucinogen mudzepete. No students reported use of heroin, cocaine, LSD or opium. Drug use increased with age and involved both sexes, the problem being more acute in the urban schools. A differential use pattern is revealed, implying valuable information for targeted prevention efforts

Epidemiological study of drug use in urban and rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe

In this survey a total of2 783 secondary school students of both sexes, mean age 15,5 years, from randomly selected schools in both rural and urban areas of Zimbabwe were studied using a self report questionnaire. The results strongly indicated that drug use was quite prevalent among the students. The main drugs involved, in descending order, were: alcohol, tobacco, inhalants (solvents), amphetamines and cannabis. Others included mandrax, tranquilisers, sedatives and the hallucinogen mudzepete. No students reported use of heroin, cocaine, LSD or opium. Drug use increased with age and involved both sexes, the problem being more acute in the urban schools. A differential use pattern is revealed, implying valuable information for targeted prevention efforts

PREVALENCE OF MAJOR DEPRESSION IN DELIBERATE SELF-HARM INDIVIDUALS IN HARARE, ZIMBABWE

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of major depression in deliberate self-harmindividuals.Design. A cross sectional descriptive study.Setting. Three tertiary health care centres in Harare, Zimbabwe.Subjects: Three hundred and eighty seven deliberate self-harm consecutive subjects wererecruited from July 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997 for this study. Diagnostic proceduresincluded complete medical history, physical and neurological examinations. The DSM-IVcriterion for major depression was used for the diagnostic purpose.Main outcome measures: The prevalence of major depression, number of attempts andrecent life events, methods used, feeling in deliberate self-harm individuals.Results: The prevalence of major depression was 20.7% (n=80, 95% CI= 16.7-24.2) accordingto the DSM-IV criterion. Sixty-two percent (95% CI= 57.2-66.8) of the subjects with DSHwere aged <30 years. Significant differences (P<0.05) were found between DSH subjects withand without major depression related to age, education, life events and number of previousattempts.Conclusion: The most predictive factors associated with DSH risks are age, depression,recent loss, divorced, loss of job and history of previous attempts. Further studies are neededto address some causes of DSH