PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
The prevalence and influence of gangs on adolescents and young adults remain a concern in Western Cape, South Africa-particularly as they have one of the largest gang presence. While less attention has been focused on young women, there is a need to elucidate the relationship between gang exposure and health behaviors, such substance use, in addition to understanding whether becoming a caregiver impacts this relationship. This study uses baseline data from 496 participants enrolled in a NIDA-funded R01 trial that recruited young women aged 16 to 19 who were out of school and reported recent alcohol or other drug use and sexual risk behavior. At enrollment, a risk behavior survey was administered, and urine drug screening was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine baseline associations between childbirth, a gang exposure index based on eight items, and positive drug screens of the most prevalent drugs in the Western Cape (marijuana, methaqualone, and methamphetamine). At enrollment, approximately 39% of the sample had a positive urine screen for marijuana, 17% for methaqualone, and 11% for methamphetamine. Additionally, 28% had ever given birth. While only 6% reported ever being a member of a gang, most reported exposure to gangs through their physical and social environments. For all three drugs, gang exposure was associated with statistically significantly higher odds of a positive screen. Every one-point increase in the gang exposure index was associated with a 31% increase in the odds of a positive marijuana screen (p < .001), a 26% increase for methaqualone (p = 0.005) and a 37% increase in the odds of a positive methamphetamine screen (p < .001). Ever given birth was associated with lower odds of marijuana use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.42-0.96), but it was not associated with methaqualone or methamphetamine use. The findings suggest that exposure to gangs through young women\'s social and physical environment is positively associated with drug use. Childbirth was also protective for marijuana use, indicating there may be something unique about this type of drug, such as one\'s ability to more easily stop use. Although very few young women reported gang membership, a majority reported some exposure, indicating the need to address how pervasive this exposure is and the potential risk.
摘要：
在西开普省,帮派对青少年和青壮年的流行和影响仍然令人关切,南非--特别是因为他们是最大的帮派之一。虽然对年轻女性的关注较少，有必要阐明帮派暴露与健康行为之间的关系，这种物质的使用，除了了解成为照顾者是否会影响这种关系。这项研究使用了496名参与者的基线数据，这些参与者参加了NIDA资助的R01试验，该试验招募了16至19岁的年轻女性，她们失学并报告了最近的酒精或其他药物使用以及性风险行为。在入学时，进行了风险行为调查，并进行尿液药物筛选。进行了多变量逻辑回归分析，以检查分娩之间的基线关联，基于八个项目的帮派暴露指数，和西开普省最常见药物的阳性药物筛选(大麻，甲喹酮,和甲基苯丙胺）。在入学时，大约39%的样本尿液中大麻筛查呈阳性，甲喹酮的17%，和11%的甲基苯丙胺。此外,28%曾经生育过。虽然只有6%的人报告说曾经是帮派成员，大多数人报告通过他们的物理和社会环境接触到帮派。对于所有三种药物，帮派暴露与统计学上显著较高的阳性筛查几率相关.帮派暴露指数每增加1分，大麻筛查阳性的几率就会增加31%（p<.001），甲喹酮增加26%(p=0.005)，甲基苯丙胺筛查阳性的几率增加37%(p<.001)。曾经分娩与使用大麻的几率较低相关（调整后的优势比[AOR]：0.63;95％CI：0.42-0.96），但与甲喹酮或甲基苯丙胺的使用无关。研究结果表明，通过年轻女性的社会和物理环境接触帮派与吸毒呈正相关。分娩对使用大麻也有保护作用，表明这种药物可能有一些独特之处，比如一个人更容易停止使用的能力。尽管很少有年轻女性报告成为帮派成员，大多数人报告了一些暴露，这表明需要解决这种暴露的普遍性和潜在风险。
