Open AccessKNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF STIMULANT USE AMONG SECURITY PERSONNEL IN USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY, SOKOTO, NIGERIA
Author(s) -
Yunusa EU,
Bakare AT,
Shagari GB,
Abubakar AM,
Y Sharhabila,
A Yunusa,
Ango UM,
Umar MT
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
caliphate medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2346-7207
pISSN - 2346-7193
DOI - 10.47837/cmj.19770126.20186141122
Subject(s) - stimulant , medicine , interview , family medicine , psychiatry , political science , law
Background: The use and abuse of stimulants has become a serious public health problem resulting into both health and psycho-social negative effects. Objectives: The study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of stimulants use among security personnel. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted among 180 security personnel at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, North-west Nigeria. Data was collected using a set of pretested, semi- structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire to obtain information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the study subjects, knowledge, attitude and practice of stimulants use. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. Results: Majority (96.1%) had ever heard of stimulant use. Most of the respondents (87.8%) had adequate knowledge of stimulant use. A large proportion of them new that its abuse can be harmful (74.4%). Majority (73.6%) have negative attitude toward the use of stimulants. Less than a quarter (19.4%) use stimulant daily, 77.2% strongly agree that a colleague has ever been involved in the use of stimulants. Conclusion: Majority of the respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of stimulant use and a large proportion of them new that when abused, it could be harmful. Majority have negative attitude towards use of stimulants. Security Personnel should be well informed on both the short and long term adverse effects of stimulants use.