Patterns of Substance Abuse Among Health Care Professionals in Selected Hospitals in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study sought to assess the patterns of substance abuse among healthcare professionals in selected hospitals in Asaba, Delta State. The work was guided by six research objectives and three hypotheses. Relevant literature was reviewed under the study’s objectives and research questions. Data was acquired using a research questionnaire distributed to 400 healthcare professionals selected from three different hospitals in Asaba. 360 of the respondents properly filled out and returned their questionnaires, which were used for data analysis. Data analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistics. The results, presented in tables, displayed frequencies and percentage distributions. The findings indicated that the majority of respondents (78.1%) believed that alcohol was the most commonly abused substance among healthcare professionals, followed by tobacco (67.5%). The study also found that the reasons healthcare professionals engage in substance abuse include: easy access (62.5%), excessive workloads (56.9%), and stress (51.7%). The results also revealed that age and marital status influenced substance abuse among healthcare professionals, as indicated by 48.1% of respondents. Male healthcare professionals were more likely to abuse substances than their female counterparts, as submitted by 62.5% of respondents. The study also revealed that substance abuse among healthcare professionals significantly impacted their judgment in the hospital, as strongly agreed upon by 51.7% of participants. The hypotheses tested in the study confirmed significant associations between age and substance abuse, gender and substance abuse, as well as marital status and substance abuse among healthcare professionals in hospitals in Asaba, Delta State. Based on the study’s findings, it is recommended that the government organise community awareness programs aimed at educating healthcare professionals and society as a whole about the detrimental effects of substance abuse.