Osborne, Augustus, Aboagye, Richard Gyan, Olorunsaiye, Comfort, James, Peter Bai, Bangura, Camilla, Seidu, Abdul-Aziz, Kangbai, Jia B., and Ahinkorah, Bright Opoku (2024) Prevalence and predictors of lifetime amphetamine use among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. BMJ Open, 14. e080225.

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Abstract

Objective This study examined the prevalence of amphetamine use and its associated factors among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone.

Design Data for the study was sourced from the 2017 Sierra Leone Global School-based Health Survey. Percentages with confidence intervals (CIs) were used to present the prevalence of amphetamine use among in-school adolescents. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the factors associated with amphetamine use. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% CIs.

Setting Sierra Leone.

Participants A weighted sample of 1,314 in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone.

Outcome measure Lifetime amphetamine use.

Results The prevalence of amphetamine use was 6.1% (3.9%–9.5%). In-school adolescents who planned suicide were more likely to use amphetamine compared with those who did not (aOR 2.54; 95% CI 1.02 to 6.31). Also, the odds of amphetamine use were higher among in-school adolescents who received support from their peers (aOR 3.19, 95% CI 1.71 to 5.96), consumed alcohol (aOR 4.85, 95% CI 2.61 to 9.03), and those who had previously used marijuana (aOR 13.31, 95% CI 6.61 to 28.78) compared with those who did not receive any support, never consumed alcohol, and never used marijuana, respectively.

Conclusion Amphetamine use is prevalent among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. There is a need to implement comprehensive public health policies that extend beyond school-based psychobehavioural therapies. These policies should specifically address the considerable risk factors associated with amphetamine use among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone.

Item ID:	86448
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2044-6055
Copyright Information:	© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Date Deposited:	31 Jul 2025 02:58
FoR Codes:	42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4206 Public health > 420606 Social determinants of health @ 100%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200413 Substance abuse @ 100%
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