INTERPLAY BETWEEN SUBSTANCE USE AND HEALTH: BEHAVIOURAL DYNAMICS AMONG FEMALE ADOLESCENTS IN BUTTERWORTH, SOUTH AFRICA

Samkelo Bala,Simon Kang’Ethe

doi:10.15270/56-4-886

Abstract

Using an exploratory and descriptive design, as well as interviews and focus group discussions with female adolescents, their parents, former users of substances, social workers, probation officers, community leaders, teachers and police (SAPS), the paper explores the interplay between substance use by female adolescents and their behaviour. Findings revealed that substances use among female adolescents motivated sexual behaviour, sexual engagement was driven by financial goals, there was an increased risk of contracting STIs, excessive consumption of alcohol was normalised, and increased propensity for conflict became evident. The paper recommends that the government and NGOs work together synergistically in order to address substance use among adolescent females.

Highlights

The phenomenon of substance abuse, especially among youths, is one of the leading problems confronting South Africa today
Demographic details of the participants A total of 26 people residing at Butterworth town in the Eastern Cape were interviewed to collect data, with seven (7) female adolescents, nine (9) parents and community members
The findings indicated that there were more families headed by widows and single parents, which registers an environment of possibly less control and lowered capacity to discipline their children, which is an environment offering fertile ground for adolescent involvement in substance abuse

Summary

Introduction

The phenomenon of substance abuse, especially among youths, is one of the leading problems confronting South Africa today. Taking the consumption of alcohol as an example, current statistics indicate that the country consumes 5 billion litres of alcohol a year, which contributes massively to the carnage on the roads, as well as crime and foetal disorders (Pedersen, 2016). This high rate of substance consumption and business dealings means that the country has earned the title of a drug mecca of the world (Geyer & Lombard, 2014). Female adolescents are taking as many substances as their male counterparts and this is becoming a major problem facing South Africa. The literature highlights that female adolescents use methamphetamine drugs as much as males do (Dada, Burnhams, Laubscher, Parry, & Myers, 2018)

Objectives

Methods

Results