Socio-Demographic Characteristics among Substance Abusers Admitted in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq
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Background: Substance abuse is one of the largest and most pressing problems in the world today. This phenomenon became a significant problem in Iraqi society and needs to be addressed by all responsible authorities.
Methodology: A sample of 370 substance abuse patients admitted to two tertiary hospitals, designated for treatment and rehabilitation of substance-related disorders, in Baghdad/Iraq, were interviewed by the researchers during the period from 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022. A semi-structured questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics and substance use history details. The statistical analysis process depended on descriptive and determination of associations analysis using IBM SPSS software package version 20 at a significance level of <0.05.
Results: An overwhelming majority of the sample were males (96.8%), with a mean age of 33.04±10.46 years, two-fifths (41.6%) were married, while three-quarters (74.1%) had a low educational level (primary school level or less). A similar proportion reported their occupation as job earners-private workers. The mean age of the patients when starting substance use was 22.27±7.70 years, with the highest proportion (43.8%) in the 20 and to 29-year age group. The reported duration of substance abuse was 11 years, with more in about one half (48.4%) of the sample reported >10 years.
Conclusion: Almost all hospitalised substance abusers were males were young males, mostly in the 25-34 year age group. Lower educational level and job earners were positively associated with substance use disorder.
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