The link between drug use and HIV/AIDS among young people in ...

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Figure 4: Bar graph depicting perceived consequences of risky behavior by participants. 60 50 40 30 20 10 6.9 8.5 59.7 46.5 33.3 45.1 Drugs % Risky Sexual Behaviour % 0 Not informed Slightly informed Well informed Respondents indicated that their main source of information on drugs and HIV/AIDS was the school / educational institutions. Other significant main sources of information included the television / Internet and one’s own experience. Figure 5: Pie Chart depicting percentage of participants’ main source of information on drugs and HIV/AIDS. 10% 7% 12% 41% 20% 2% 3% Drug free/community group Church/religious groups Newspapers Own experience 5% School/educational institutions Professionals/AIDS Foundation Television/Internet Other Figure 6 indicates that at least 21 (30%) respondents indicated that they had taken drug prevention courses whilst 32 (47.1%) had attended HIV/AIDS forums / discussions. Of those who had taken drug prevention courses all stated that the courses were somewhat useful; and at least 10 had attended 2 drug prevention courses. Of respondents who had attended HIV/AIDS forum, 22 indicated that these discussions were very useful and 7 indicated they were somewhat useful; 6 had attended at least 2 discussions and 3 had attended at least 4 discussions. 15
Figure 6: Bar graph depicting the ratings (%) of prevention forums by participants. 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 75.0 66.7 Very useful 18.2 8.3 Useful 16.7 3.0 Slightly useful Not useful 6.1 6.1 Don't know Drug Prevention Courses % HIV/AIDS Forum % 4.2 Focus Group Discussions The following summarizes the responses of the 10 focus group discussions: Defining the term “drug” The term “drug” was generally defined by participants as being any substance that when taken into the body modifies the manner in which the body works. Drugs were perceived by some youth as harmful to the body and health, and also addictive. “When I hear the word drug, I think of something that people use that is not healthy to our body, anybody and if we abuse it can cause a negative effect on us. Once it is harmful to the body and we know it can deteriorate our body, then it’s a drug. I also think it affects your body and mind. It mash up your brain. It’s a mood altering chemical; alters the way you think.” [females and males, 14-16, in and out of school and 20-24 in school] On the other hand, other participants indicated that some drugs such as pharmaceuticals were useful and it was the abuse of drugs that was dangerous. Still some participants defined a drug as something that positively stimulated the mind into a state of meditation and relaxation. “Something somebody take to feel nice and relax their mind; to refresh your memories, take it to be cool and revise. The drug let out the real person in you.” [females 14-16 and mixed 20-24, out of school] Participants identified the following drugs that were used in Grenada – marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, alcohol, tobacco, and hemp. They also pointed out that other local herbs such as black sage and rosemary were also smoked. It was noted that the majority of participants were able to differentiate legal (alcohol, cigarettes and over the counter drugs / pharmaceuticals only for medicinal value) and illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, heroin). However, a few participants expressed belief that such substances like alcohol, cigarette and medicine were illegal drugs. It was further noted that in four focus groups, alcohol was not mentioned as a drug and was subsequently introduced into the discussion by the moderator. 16
Page 1 and 2: The link between drug use and HIV/A
Page 3 and 4: Contents Contents .................
Page 5 and 6: List of Figures and Tables Figures
Page 7 and 8: these programmes. More youth partic
Page 9 and 10: 1.2 Literature Review A review of t
Page 11 and 12: control none of the time or some of
Page 13 and 14: Youth at risk: • Persons who have
Page 15 and 16: Selection Criteria The selection cr
Page 17 and 18: 3.5 Analysis Descriptive analysis w
Page 19 and 20: 17 (24.6%) respondents indicated th
Page 21: Alcohol was the first drug consumed
Page 25 and 26: marijuana. Youth use marijuana. The
Page 27 and 28: From much of the discourse, it appe
Page 29 and 30: then they will say ‘take a little
Page 31 and 32: Like me mother she does tell me bro
Page 33 and 34: “Most of the times having sex wit
Page 35 and 36: “You see nobody eh believe in thi
Page 37 and 38: strong desire to be socially accept
Page 39 and 40: Who is responsible? It was reported
Page 41 and 42: Sexual promiscuity was reported as
Page 43 and 44: eventually they can’t control the
Page 45 and 46: Five groups argued that there shoul
Page 47 and 48: usage of alcohol among young person
Page 49 and 50: the dangers associated with such pr
Page 51 and 52: The electronic media such as the te
Page 53 and 54: The observer noticed that that part
Page 55 and 56: • From the onset of primary socia
Page 57 and 58: 3. The implementation of programmes
Page 59 and 60: Appendices Appendix A1 Table 4: In
Page 61 and 62: Appendix B1 - Focus Group Questions
Page 63 and 64: Terry Charles, Director, Grenada Re
Page 65 and 66: 13.7 Having unprotected sex 13.8 Ha

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