solvent-abuse-pakistan

RESEARCH & METHODOLOGIES
Section two
2.1 Defining the Problem
2.3 Research Methodology & Procedures:
The National Assessment Study on the
Drug Abuse Situation in Pakistan, 2000,
documented that there are approximately
500,000 chronic heroin users (including drug
injectors) in the country. The study also
highlighted an emerging problem of solvent
abuse among young people; street children in
particular. Research has documented Street
children to be one of the most vulnerable
populations for various deviated behaviours
such as substance abuse. Data from the
study did not allow comment on the issue in
any detail, but Solvent abuse was most
commonly reported from urban areas in the
major cities like Lahore Karachi, Rawalpindi
and Peshawar.
However, the extent to which this
marginalized and vulnerable group is abusing
solvents deserves further attention, as does
the wider question of what can be done to
alleviate the drug and other social problems
amongst this particularly needy group of
young people.
The following study is therefore designed in
order to get a better understanding on solvent
abuse among adolescents in Pakistan, and
utilize the results in the formulation of
interventions for the street children with the
solvent abuse problem.
2.2 Aims & Objectives:
The objectives of the study:
To determine the …
i) prevalence of solvent abuse among
street children in Pakistan;
ii) patterns and trends of solvent abuse
among street children in Pakistan;
iii) level of awareness about adverse
consequences of solvent and drug
abuse;
iv) the demographic and socio-economic
profile of solvent abusers, living
circumstances including group dynamics;
v) health and social consequences of
solvent abuse;
vi) sources of financing solvent and drug
abuse;
vii) knowledge of HIV / AIDS and associated
risk practices; and
ix) the nature, extent and quality of
treatment and rehabilitation facilities, if
any, for street children abusing solvents.
2.3.1 Case Definition
Reaching a case definition was a highly
tedious task, primarily due to the scarcity of
research undertaken on the subject in
Pakistan, as well as the highly complicated
dynamics of this vulnerable population. The
task required defining 'street children' initially,
followed by delineating 'solvent abuse' and
finally merging the two to reach a case
definition to be used for the purposes of our
study. Street children were defined as:
“children for whom the family support base
has become increasingly weakened and who
must share in the responsibility of family
survival by working on city streets and market
places. Nevertheless, while the street
becomes their daily time activity, the majority
return home most nights.”. Based on the
preceding, the eligibility criteria for subjects to
be included in the study was described as:
Street children spending a minimum of 10
hours on the street, irrespective of
residential status
Either male or female
Aged between 9 to 19 years
using any of the products included in the
list of abusive solvents (annex 1) continuously
for a minimum of past 6 month, not less
than 3 times a week.
Based on the above mentioned criteria, our
case definition was:
“All street children, either male/female, aged
9 to 19 yrs, willing to participate in the study
and had been regularly using solvents in the
past 6 month for not less than 3 times a week.”
2.3.2 Subject selection
The study was conducted in the four
provincial capitals of Pakistan i.e., Karachi,
Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. Extensive
efforts were made to achieve a representative
sample of the study population. Thus, prior to
the selection of study subjects, a
comprehensive mapping of street children
was done in the respective city, utilizing
multiple resources. Thereafter, multiple sites
with highest concentration of street children
were selected in each city, from where equal
proportions of study subjects were recruited.
Subjects found eligible were otherwise
excluded from the study but unwilling to
participate.
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