Determinants of substance use among adolescents aged 10-19 years in Tanga Region, Eastern Tanzania: A cross-sectional analysis.

<h4>Background</h4>Despite adolescents making up a significant part of the global population, they have high rates of substance use, linked to various health problems and risky behaviours and increased risk of negative social, cognitive, and physical consequences. Studies on substance us...

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Main Authors: Sanun Ally Kessy, Innocent B Mboya, Shraddha Bajaria, Innocent Yusufu, Mashavu H Yussuf, Amani Tinkasimile, Frank Mapendo, Wilbald Anthony, Imani Irema, Isaac Willey Lyatuu, David Sando, Azan Nyundo, Abbas Ismail, John Elyas Mtenga, Ndinagwe Lloyd Mwaitete, Agustine Marero, Abdallah Hussein, Jovin R Tibenderana, Agness Samwel Mchome, Esther Moka, Julieth Gaston Bitabo, Sakina Magadi Mustafa, Ally Ramadhani Kassembo, Kisaka Kachua, Salome Meshack Materu, Maurus Ndunguru, Charles Mkombe, Stephen Mwandambo, Mary Mwanyika Sando, Wafaie Fawzi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLOS Global Public Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004150
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author Sanun Ally Kessy
Innocent B Mboya
Shraddha Bajaria
Innocent Yusufu
Mashavu H Yussuf
Amani Tinkasimile
Frank Mapendo
Wilbald Anthony
Imani Irema
Isaac Willey Lyatuu
David Sando
Azan Nyundo
Abbas Ismail
John Elyas Mtenga
Ndinagwe Lloyd Mwaitete
Agustine Marero
Abdallah Hussein
Jovin R Tibenderana
Agness Samwel Mchome
Esther Moka
Julieth Gaston Bitabo
Sakina Magadi Mustafa
Ally Ramadhani Kassembo
Kisaka Kachua
Salome Meshack Materu
Maurus Ndunguru
Charles Mkombe
Stephen Mwandambo
Mary Mwanyika Sando
Wafaie Fawzi
author_facet Sanun Ally Kessy
Innocent B Mboya
Shraddha Bajaria
Innocent Yusufu
Mashavu H Yussuf
Amani Tinkasimile
Frank Mapendo
Wilbald Anthony
Imani Irema
Isaac Willey Lyatuu
David Sando
Azan Nyundo
Abbas Ismail
John Elyas Mtenga
Ndinagwe Lloyd Mwaitete
Agustine Marero
Abdallah Hussein
Jovin R Tibenderana
Agness Samwel Mchome
Esther Moka
Julieth Gaston Bitabo
Sakina Magadi Mustafa
Ally Ramadhani Kassembo
Kisaka Kachua
Salome Meshack Materu
Maurus Ndunguru
Charles Mkombe
Stephen Mwandambo
Mary Mwanyika Sando
Wafaie Fawzi
author_sort Sanun Ally Kessy
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Despite adolescents making up a significant part of the global population, they have high rates of substance use, linked to various health problems and risky behaviours and increased risk of negative social, cognitive, and physical consequences. Studies on substance use and related risk behaviours among adolescents in Tanzania are crucial for informing targeted interventions and policies to safeguard the health and development of this vulnerable population. We aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of substance use among adolescents in the Tanga region, eastern in Tanzania.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data among 1,262 in-school (n = 1,031) and out-of-school (n = 231) adolescents conducted in Tanga, Tanzania in 2021. Data was collected using the Global School Health Survey (GSHS) questionnaire that included questions on substance use, specifically alcohol, smoking marijuana and tobacco, and recreational drugs like cocaine and heroin. Modified Poisson regression models estimated the factors influencing lifetime and current (within the past 30 days preceding the survey) substance use using Stata software version 17.<h4>Results</h4>Among 1,262 adolescents, the lifetime and current prevalence of substance use were 8.6% and 3.2%, respectively (4.1% and 0.8% among in-school vs. 29% and 13.9% among out-of-school adolescents). The most reported substance used over a lifetime among both in-school and out-of-school adolescents was smoking (2.3% and 27.7%), followed by alcohol drinking (2% and 10.4%). A higher likelihood of lifetime and current substance use was found among older adolescents (15-19 years), males, and who owned a mobile phone, with a social media account, with history of sexual activity, and out-of-school adolescents.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Substance use is common among the adolescent population in eastern Tanzania. Policies to keep adolescents in school are instrumental in reducing risk behaviours during adolescence. Targeted behaviour change interventions should be considered for older adolescents (15-19 years), out-of-school, males, and those exposed to sexual activities.
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spelling doaj-art-9dc069712a2148c5967b555a9acedb6d2025-08-20T03:13:32ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752025-01-0157e000415010.1371/journal.pgph.0004150Determinants of substance use among adolescents aged 10-19 years in Tanga Region, Eastern Tanzania: A cross-sectional analysis.Sanun Ally KessyInnocent B MboyaShraddha BajariaInnocent YusufuMashavu H YussufAmani TinkasimileFrank MapendoWilbald AnthonyImani IremaIsaac Willey LyatuuDavid SandoAzan NyundoAbbas IsmailJohn Elyas MtengaNdinagwe Lloyd MwaiteteAgustine MareroAbdallah HusseinJovin R TibenderanaAgness Samwel MchomeEsther MokaJulieth Gaston BitaboSakina Magadi MustafaAlly Ramadhani KassemboKisaka KachuaSalome Meshack MateruMaurus NdunguruCharles MkombeStephen MwandamboMary Mwanyika SandoWafaie Fawzi<h4>Background</h4>Despite adolescents making up a significant part of the global population, they have high rates of substance use, linked to various health problems and risky behaviours and increased risk of negative social, cognitive, and physical consequences. Studies on substance use and related risk behaviours among adolescents in Tanzania are crucial for informing targeted interventions and policies to safeguard the health and development of this vulnerable population. We aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of substance use among adolescents in the Tanga region, eastern in Tanzania.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data among 1,262 in-school (n = 1,031) and out-of-school (n = 231) adolescents conducted in Tanga, Tanzania in 2021. Data was collected using the Global School Health Survey (GSHS) questionnaire that included questions on substance use, specifically alcohol, smoking marijuana and tobacco, and recreational drugs like cocaine and heroin. Modified Poisson regression models estimated the factors influencing lifetime and current (within the past 30 days preceding the survey) substance use using Stata software version 17.<h4>Results</h4>Among 1,262 adolescents, the lifetime and current prevalence of substance use were 8.6% and 3.2%, respectively (4.1% and 0.8% among in-school vs. 29% and 13.9% among out-of-school adolescents). The most reported substance used over a lifetime among both in-school and out-of-school adolescents was smoking (2.3% and 27.7%), followed by alcohol drinking (2% and 10.4%). A higher likelihood of lifetime and current substance use was found among older adolescents (15-19 years), males, and who owned a mobile phone, with a social media account, with history of sexual activity, and out-of-school adolescents.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Substance use is common among the adolescent population in eastern Tanzania. Policies to keep adolescents in school are instrumental in reducing risk behaviours during adolescence. Targeted behaviour change interventions should be considered for older adolescents (15-19 years), out-of-school, males, and those exposed to sexual activities.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004150
spellingShingle Sanun Ally Kessy
Innocent B Mboya
Shraddha Bajaria
Innocent Yusufu
Mashavu H Yussuf
Amani Tinkasimile
Frank Mapendo
Wilbald Anthony
Imani Irema
Isaac Willey Lyatuu
David Sando
Azan Nyundo
Abbas Ismail
John Elyas Mtenga
Ndinagwe Lloyd Mwaitete
Agustine Marero
Abdallah Hussein
Jovin R Tibenderana
Agness Samwel Mchome
Esther Moka
Julieth Gaston Bitabo
Sakina Magadi Mustafa
Ally Ramadhani Kassembo
Kisaka Kachua
Salome Meshack Materu
Maurus Ndunguru
Charles Mkombe
Stephen Mwandambo
Mary Mwanyika Sando
Wafaie Fawzi
Determinants of substance use among adolescents aged 10-19 years in Tanga Region, Eastern Tanzania: A cross-sectional analysis.
PLOS Global Public Health
title Determinants of substance use among adolescents aged 10-19 years in Tanga Region, Eastern Tanzania: A cross-sectional analysis.
title_full Determinants of substance use among adolescents aged 10-19 years in Tanga Region, Eastern Tanzania: A cross-sectional analysis.
title_fullStr Determinants of substance use among adolescents aged 10-19 years in Tanga Region, Eastern Tanzania: A cross-sectional analysis.
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of substance use among adolescents aged 10-19 years in Tanga Region, Eastern Tanzania: A cross-sectional analysis.
title_short Determinants of substance use among adolescents aged 10-19 years in Tanga Region, Eastern Tanzania: A cross-sectional analysis.
title_sort determinants of substance use among adolescents aged 10 19 years in tanga region eastern tanzania a cross sectional analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004150
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