Browsing by Author "Scholastic, Ashaba"

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Gender differences in substance use and associated factors among urban refugees in Uganda
(Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group, 2023) Ronald, Bahati; Scholastic, Ashaba; Cathy Denise, Sigmund; Godfrey Zari, Rukundo; Herbert Elvis, Ainamani
Background: Alcohol and other substances use related problems among refugees is a global public health concern. Although there is substantial research on the use of alcohol and other substances among the refugees, little is known about gender and other factors that might be associated with the use of alcohol and other substances. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol and substance use across gender and other specific associated factors among urban refugees living in Mbarara city, Southwestern Uganda. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 343 refugees were interviewed on the use of alcohol and other substances using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test and the Drug Abuse Screening Test. The associated factors included, age, marital status, occupation, duration (length of stay) in Uganda, educational levels, stigma and depression. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the associations between the predictor and outcome variables. Results: No significant gender difference in alcohol use was found, and the overall prevalence of hazardous, harmful or dependent alcohol use among our sample of refugees living in Mbarara city was 43%. There were however, statistically significant gender differences in the use of other substances, with a significantly higher percentage of men than women reporting intermediate, substantial, or severe substance use (45% among men, 37% among women). Higher levels of depression and being separated from one’s spouse were associated with higher levels of alcohol and substance use. In addition, higher age and being male were associated with the use of substances other than alcohol. Conclusions: Our findings indicate a high prevalence of problematic alcohol and substance use among both male and female refugees. Clinical interventions focused on the treatment and prevention of alcohol and substance use among the refugee communities may benefit from focusing on depressive symptoms as well
Gender differences in substance use and associated factors among urban refugees in Uganda
(European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2023) Ronald, Bahati; Scholastic, Ashaba; Cathy Denise, Sigmund; Godfrey, Zari; Herbert Elvis, Ainamani
Background: Alcohol and other substances use related problems among refugees is a global public health concern. Although there is substantial research on the use of alcohol and other substances among the refugees, little is known about gender and other factors that might be associated with the use of alcohol and other substances. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol and substance use across gender and other specific associated factors among urban refugees living in Mbarara city, Southwestern Uganda. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 343 refugees were interviewed on the use of alcohol and other substances using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test and the Drug Abuse Screening Test. The associated factors included, age, marital status, occupation, duration (length of stay) in Uganda, educational levels, stigma and depression. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the associations between the predictor and outcome variables. Results: No significant gender difference in alcohol use was found, and the overall prevalence of hazardous, harmful or dependent alcohol use among our sample of refugees living in Mbarara city was 43%. There were however, statistically significant gender differences in the use of other substances, with a significantly higher percentage of men than women reporting intermediate, substantial, or severe substance use (45% among men, 37% among women). Higher levels of depression and being separated from one’s spouse were associated with higher levels of alcohol and substance use. In addition, higher age and being male were associated with the use of substances other than alcohol. Conclusions: Our findings indicate a high prevalence of problematic alcohol and substance use among both male and female refugees. Clinical interventions focused on the treatment and prevention of alcohol and substance use among the refugee communities may benefit from focusing on depressive symptoms as well.
Perceptions and Attitudes of the Local Community towards Urban Refugees Living in Mbarara City, Southwestern Uganda
(Bishop Stuart University, 2022-01-12) Bahatia, Ronald; Godfrey, Zari Rukundo; Cathy, Denise Sigmund; Herbert, Elvis Ainamania; Scholastic, Ashaba
There is an increasing number of refugees choosing to live in urban centers even when this makes them forego humanitarian assistance such as shelter and food from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and host governments. Refugees in urban centers have to fend for themselves. This situation sometimes makes them ‘lock horns’ with the local communities. We examined the perception of the local community towards urban refugees in Mbarara city southwestern Uganda
Refugee Stigma and Its Association with Depression Symptom Severity
(Scientific Research publishing, 2022-09-16) Ronald, Bahati; Herbert Elvis, Ainamani; Scholastic, Ashaba; Cathy Denise, Sigmund; Godfrey Zari, Rukundo
Introduction: Refugees in urban areas often face acculturation challenges, stigma, and stereotypes that impact their mental well-being. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of stigma and its association with depressive symptoms among urban refugees living in Mbarara city, southwestern Uganda. Methods: This cross-sectional study used snowball sampling and interviewed 343 refugees residing in Mbarara city, southwes tern Uganda. The Discrimination and Stigma Scale was used to assess stigma, whereas the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to screen for depression symptoms severity. Linear regression models determined the as sociations between stigma and depression symptoms severity. Data were col lected between June 2019 and March 2020. Findings: Of the 343 participants, 198 were males and 145 were females; their mean age was 28.8 years (SD = 11.0). Most of the participants (95.3%) had attained formal education. Our findings show that 84% (n = 288) of the participants had symptoms of stigma. Stigma had a statistically significant positive association with depressive symptoms severity (b = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.15). Age had statistically sig nificant positive association with depression symptoms severity (b = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.14). Education level had a statistically significant negative association with depressive symptoms severity (b = −0.53; 95% CI, −0.97 to −0.09). Conclusions: Urban refugees experience high levels of both stigma and depression. Interventions aimed at reducing stigma could subsequently reduce depression among refugees living in urban areas.