PREVENTATIVE STRATEGIES INFLUENCING DRUG ABUSE REDUCTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The study sought to examine the preventative strategies influencing drug abuse reduction among the undergraduate students enrolled in public university campuses in Nairobi County. The reviewed literature indicated that there were some researches done on drug abuse among students in universities but little was done on the influence of preventative strategies on drug abuse reduction among undergraduate students in public universities campuses in Nairobi County. The study used Triangulation mixed methods design that adopted convergent parallel mixed method model. Cross-sectional survey research design was used for quantitative data while phenomenological design for qualitative data. Stratified random sampling and purposive sampling was used to select the sample. The sample consisted of one thousand, five hundred and twenty four (1524) participants who included 1500 students, 20 peer counsellors, two university counsellors and two deans of students. Questionnaires, interview and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) guides were used to collect data. Content and construct validity was obtained by ensuring items in the questionnaires were constructed based on the research topic and questions. Validity of qualitative instruments was obtained through member‟s check and triangulation methods. Cronbach‟s coefficient alpha (CCA) formula was used to obtain reliability. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21 was used to analyse quantitative data while NVIVO was used to analyse qualitative data. Descriptive statistics were used in analysis of quantitative data while thematic and content analysis techniques were used to analyse qualitative data. The findings of the study revealed that the preventative strategies in public university campuses greatly influenced drug abuse reduction among students; various factors hinder the implementation of drug abuse policies; guidance and counselling had helped to reduce drug abuse among students. The conclusion was that most of university campuses have put in place preventative strategies to reduce drug abuse among student; preventative strategies have reduced drug abuse to some extent in different university campuses; some factors have hindered effective reduction of drug abuse among students in university campuses. The study recommended that the policy makers in collaboration with the ministry of education should formulate policies that guide on suitable environment in which university campuses should be situated. Further studies should be carried out to establish the role of the university support staff in the fight against drug abuse among students.