Principal’s Support of Peer Education and Prevalence of Drug and Substance Abuse in Public Secondary Schools in Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to determine whether significant differences existed between levels on prevalence of drug and substance abuse in schools where principals supported peer education versus those who did not support peer education. The study utilized descriptive survey design and the target population of students was 30,745. Out of 30745, 420 students formed sample size for the study from 35 schools, 35 principals, five education officers for focus group discussion and 35 guidance and counseling teachers totaling to 495 respondents. Instruments used were questionnaires for students and guidance and counseling teachers, interview guide for principals and focused group discussion. The computer program on statistical package for social Sciences (SPSS) was used in the analysis. Levene’s t –test for equality of variances and means was used for independent and dependent samples to get the significance on prevalence of drug and substance abuse. The study established that schools which led peer education have a significant difference on the prevalence of drug and substance abuse hence have higher education, the study established that there were various ways in which peers participated to address the prevalence on drug and substance abuse. These ways are through use of peers to address drug and substance abuse, through use of clubs, through use of societies to address drug and substance abuse, through use of skits, use of plays, use of music and finally through use of drama to address drug and substance abuse. The study also identified the drug and substance abuse by the students in public secondary schools in Busia County. These drug and substance included the following: alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, miraa, cocaine, bhang, kubber, mandrax and hashish. The study concluded that peer education positively influenced students’ behavior in the sense that they reduced drug and substance abuse among the students. The study recommends embracing of peer education in all secondary schools where they were not yet embraced as a preemptive measure. The study should be carried out in private secondary schools and primary schools in other parts of the Republic where drugs are a menace. The study also recommended that the ways in which peers participated to address the prevalence on drug and substance abuse in public secondary schools in Busia County, Kenya should be enhanced.