Does Family Structure Predispose Youth to Drug Use: the Case of Kajiado County, Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Chege, Antony
Kathungu, Beatrice
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nacada
Abstract
There is evidence suggesting that drug use among the youth is common and has extensive
effects on their social, health and economic lives. It is critical that this issue be addressed by
understanding the factors that are associated with drug use in order to guide the development
of targeted prevention programs. Family factors can either increase the risk or protect the
youth from drug use. There is need to understand how family factors such as the structure
of the family influence drug use among the youth. Guided by the structural family model
this study sought to find out the relationship between family structure and drug use among
youth in Kajiado County, Kenya. The study used the correlation study design and targeted
youth between ages 10-25. To obtain the sample of 356 respondents, a multi-stage sampling
procedure was used. Data was collected using a questionnaire, assessing family structure
and drug use patterns. The chi square test was used to analyze the data. According to the
findings, there were significant differences in recent, current and daily drug use between
youth from double-parent and single-parent families, with those from single-parent families
having the highest rates. These findings suggest that NACADA, youth organizations and
other mental health practitioners concerned with drug use among youth should design drug
use prevention programs that target youth from single-parent families who seem to be at a
higher risk than their counterparts from double-parent families.
Description
Article
Keywords
Family structure, Double-parent family, Single-parent family, Drug use and youth
Citation
Antony, C., Kathungu, B., & Antony, C. (2021). Does Family Structure Predispose Youth to Drug Use: The Case of Kajiado County, Kenya. African Journal of Alcohol & Drug Abuse, 5, 68-80.