Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of Substance Use among Adults with Mental Illness in Eastern Cape, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

Linda Tindimwebwa, Anthony Idowu Ajayi and Oladele Vincent Adeniyi
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Linda Tindimwebwa: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University/Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, East London 5200, South Africa
Anthony Idowu Ajayi: Population Dynamics and Sexual and Reproductive Health, African Population and Health Research Centre, APHRC Campus, Manga Close, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Oladele Vincent Adeniyi: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University/Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, East London 5200, South Africa

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: This study reports on the prevalence and demographic correlates of substance use among individuals with mental illness in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Outpatient Clinic of a large hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A pre-validated tool on alcohol and psychoactive drug use was administered to 390 individuals with mental illness. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to explore the demographic correlates of alcohol and psychoactive drug use. Of the total participants (N = 390), 64.4% and 33.3% reported lifetime (ever used) and past-year use of alcohol, respectively, but the prevalence of risky alcohol use was 18.5%. After adjusting for relevant covariates, only male sex, younger age, and rural residence remained significantly associated with risky alcohol use. The prevalence of ever-use and past-year use of psychoactive substances was 39.7% and 17.4%, respectively. The most common substance ever used was cannabis (37.4%). Male sex, younger age, owning a business, and being unemployed were significantly associated with higher odds of lifetime and past-year use of psychoactive substances. Findings highlight the need for dedicated infrastructure and staff training in the management of these dual diagnoses in the region.

Keywords: alcohol use; Eastern Cape; psychoactive drugs; South Africa; substance use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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