Knowledge and views on drug abuse of primary health care workers in Nigeria

Abstract

Primary health care (PHC) in Nigeria (as in many developing countries) relies heavily on paramedical personnel. Using a selfreport structured questionnaire design, 207 PHC workers were assessed on their knowledge and views about drug and alcohol abuse. PHC workers with previous exposure to some form of drug abuse training were significantly more likely to be aware of the correct usage for the term ‘drug abuse’, although the whole range of drugs of abuse/dependence was much less well appreciated. Drugs reported by the PHC workers to be commonly abused in the study area were in keeping with previous findings on drug abuse in the country. However, 75.4% of the PHC workers perceived drug abuse as a low grade problem, in contrast to recent reports, of the increasing magnitude of drug abuse problems in the country. About one fifth of PHC workers were of the opinion that drug abusers should be punished. Only 35 (16.9%) of those who indicated the need for treatment mentioned that this could be carried out by PHC personnel. Many of the PHC workers showed limited knowledge of factors associated with drug abuse and on the scope of preventive strategies against drug abuse. Suggestions are made on the short and long term training needs of the PHC workers in order to ensure the successful incorporation of drug abuse treatment and prevention programmes into the PHC programme in Nigeria.