Risk factors for alcohol and drug misuse amongst young women in informal settlements in Durban, South Africa

• Published in: Global public health Vol. 15; no. 9; pp. 1322 - 1336
• Main Authors: Ndungu, Jane, Washington, Laura, Willan, Samantha, Ramsoomar, Leane, Ngcobo-Sithole, Magnolia, Gibbs, Andrew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.09.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Alcohol; Alcohol abuse; Alcohol related disorders; Alcohol use; Alcoholism; Bivariate analysis; Disability; Disorders; Drug abuse; Drug use; Drugs; Health care; Health services; informal settlements; Intimate partner violence; Mental depression; Mental health; Mental health services; Regression analysis; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sex; Sex crimes; Sexual abuse; Sexual behavior; Sexual violence; Signs and symptoms; Sociodemographics; Substance abuse; Substance use disorder; urban; Violence; Women; Young women; South Africa; informal settlements; Alcohol; urban; drugs; women
• ISSN: 1744-1692; 1744-1706
• DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1775866

Alcohol and drug misuse (ADM) pose a significant disease burden globally. Yet, there remains a gap in understanding risk factors associated with women's ADM, particularly those in marginalised settings. We investigated risk factors associated with ADM amongst young women in urban informal settlements in South Africa. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted on a sample of 680 young women assessing associations between sociodemographic factors, mental health, relationship factors and past year ADM. Alcohol misuse was assessed using the 10 item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scale, with scores ≥8 defining misuse, a single item assessed past year illegal drug use. Alcohol and drug misuse were reported by 23.1% and 31.8% of the women respectively. In multivariable regression, alcohol misuse was associated with experiencing past year non-partner sexual violence, transactional sex with a main partner, past year drug use, and past week depressive symptoms, while drug misuse was associated with alcohol misuse, transactional sex with a casual partner, past year experience of physical and/or sexual IPV and having a functional limitation (disability). Results indicate ADM in informal settlements are shaped by violence and poor mental health. Interventions geared towards strengthening women's economic position and mental healthcare are recommended.