@article{ref1,
title="Prevalence and predictors of lifetime amphetamine use among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone",
journal="BMJ open",
year="2024",
author="Osborne, Augustus and Aboagye, Richard Gyan and Olorunsaiye, Comfort Z. and James, Peter Bai and Bangura, Camilla and Seidu, Abdul-Aziz and Kangbai, Jia B. and Ahinkorah, Bright Opoku",
volume="14",
number="3",
pages="e080225-e080225",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This study examined the prevalence of amphetamine use and its associated factors among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2044-6055",
doi="10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080225",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080225"
}