SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OFFENCE AMONG INMATES WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN FEMALE JUVENILE CENTRE, BANGLADESH

Inmates of Juvenile Developmental Centers are generally vulnerable to psychiatric illness. Females are more prone to that. The objective of the study was to determine the socio-demographic correlates, prevalence of substance abuse and offence among female inmates with psychiatric disorders in Juvenile Development Center. This was a cross sectional and descriptive study conducted in Juvenile Developmental Center (Girls’), Bangladesh. All female inmates of 9 to 18 years of age were enrolled in the study. Total respondents were 43. One stage-structured assessment of psycho-pathology was carried out by using a structured and valid Bangla version of The Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA). Information regarding socio-demography, substance abuse and offence was collected through face-to-face interview with a semi-structured questionnaire and case-notes. Data analysis was done by SPSS for windows 15 version. The result revealed that overall prevalence of psychiatric disorder was 93% in inmates of Juvenile Developmental Center. Among the respondents with psychiatric disorders, 10% had history of substance abuse and 30% had history of offence. It can be concluded that considerable rate of substance abuse and offence was there among the female juvenile with psychiatric disorders in the development centre. Considering limitations, careful conclusion should be drawn.&nbsp

PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG MALE JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN BANGLADESH

Juvenile offenders are generally vulnerable to psychiatric illness. The objectives of the study were to determine the types of psychiatric disorders among male juvenile offenders in Bangladesh and to find out their socio-demographic correlation and relation with substance abuse. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Juvenile Development Center (Boys’), Bangladesh. All the male offenders of 9-18 years were included in the study during January - June 2011. Total respondents were 138. Validated Bangla version of the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) was used to determine psychiatric disorders which were assigned based on ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. Information regarding socio-demography and substance abuse were collected through face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire and from the case-notes. Data analysis was done by SPSS for windows 15 version. The mean (±SD) age of the respondents was 14.2 (±1.7) years. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 57.2% of the respondents. The rate of emotional disorders (48.1%) was higher than behavioral disorders (38.4%). Regarding specific disorders, conduct disorder (46.8%)and major depressive disorder (43.0%) were the most common diagnoses. Statistically significant association of psychiatric disorders was found with the urban background (57.6%), primary level of education (63.5%), and employment (75.5%). Among the respondents, 38.4% had a history of substance abuse. Among the substance abusers, 77.4% had psychiatric disorders. It can be concluded that there was the considerable rate of psychiatric disorders and substance abuse among male juvenile offenders in the development center. Broad-based replication study could confirm these findings.&nbsp

Pattern of Substance Use: Study in a De-addiction Clinic

Objectives: Substance use disorders have become a major public health problem in Bangladesh. We sought to assess the pattern of substance use and related factors among hospitalized patients. Methods: This was a descriptive study that included 105 patients. All patients who were admitted to a private drug de-addiction clinic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, between 1 July and 31 December 2013 and diagnosed with substance use disorder were enrolled in the study. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire and the information was complemented by the case-notes. Results: Almost all (90.5%) respondents were male and were poly-substance users (91.4%). The mean age of respondents was 28.8±8.0 years. Most (27.6%) respondents used three types of substances. Smoking or inhalation was the route used by most (90.5%) respondents. More than three-fourths (81.0%) of respondents used nicotine. Among the other substances, the majority (79.0%) used opioids, followed by cannabinoids (55.2%), and alcohol (41.0%). Curiosity, peer pressure, and for fun were identified as the common reasons for initiating substance use. Conclusions: A high proportion of poly-substance use was found in the study population. Our findings could help in the management and development of prevention strategies for substance use in Bangladesh