Prevalence and Gender Disparity in Substance Use and Abuse among Adolescents in Public Secondary Schools in Kisumu East Sub-county, Kisumu, Kenya

Abstract

Substance use and abuse is a serious problem in Kenya. Kisumu County leads in substance use and abuse among 12–25-year-olds.  There is, however, a dearth of studies on the prevalence and gender disparity in adolescents' use and abuse of substances in secondary schools in Kisumu East Sub- County.  This study investigated the prevalence and gender disparity in adolescents' substance use and abuse in public secondary schools in Kisumu East Sub- County, Kisumu. The study found the prevalence of substance use and abuse among secondary school's adolescents in the study area to be 38.2%. The paper established the most abused substances to be sleeping pills, bottled beer and local brews. It further found out no significant gender difference in the adolescents' use and abuse of substances. The study concluded that there is a high prevalence of substance use and abuse in the study area, and that this prevalence defies gender considerations.