Substance use among children and young persons appearing in the Nairobi Juvenile Court, Kenya.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence and pattern of substance use among children and young persons appearing in the Nairobi Juvenile Court, Kenya.


METHODS
A point prevalence survey.


METHODS
The Nairobi Juvenile Court, Kenya.


METHODS
Ninety (sixty four males and twenty six females) children and young persons aged 8 to 18 years classified as criminal offenders, group I (60) and those for protection and discipline, group II (30), were selected.


METHODS
Socio-demographic and substance use questionnaires were administered to the subject. International classification of diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria were used.


RESULTS
Crude rate for substance use in this study was found to be 39 out of the total sample of 90(43.3%), children and young persons. Of these thirty nine, 33 (85.8%) were males and six(14.2%) were females. Twenty nine (32.2%) used nicotine, 19(21.1%) used volatile hydrocarbons, 8(8.9%) used cannabis six (6.7%) used alcohol, five (5.6%) used khat and three (3.3%) used sedatives. Multiple substance use was also evident.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown a high presence of substance use in children and young persons appearing in the Nairobi Juvenile Court.
Maru
H M
HM
Mathari Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kathuku
D M
DM
Ndetei
D M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires