Prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic substances usage and associated factors among patients attending mental health clinics conducted by a group of hospitals in Sri Lanka

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotics affects the quality of life among mental health patients. The objective of this study was to describe prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic substances usage and associated factors among patients attending mental health clinics. METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in mental health clinics from July to November in 2013. All mental health patients who had registered and followed up ≥ 1 year were the study population. Using systematic sampling, 404 patients were recruited. A pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire was used. Results were expressed as prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI). Chi-squared test was applied for assessing the associations. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of usage of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic were 53.7%, (95% CI = 48.8-58.6), 24.3%, (95% CI = 20.1-28.5) and 5.9%, (95% CI = 3.6-8.2) respectively. Current usage of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic were 42.6% (95% CI = 38.2-47), 15.3% (95% CI= 11.8-18.8) and 2.7% (95% CI = 1.1-4.3) respectively. Statistically significant relationships were found between male patients and current usage of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic substances. Patients with monthly income > LKR 5000 had a significant relationship with current usage of alcohol and tobacco. Current alcohol usage of patients was significantly associated with the alcohol consumption of the caregivers. There are no statistically significant relationships between the number of clinic attendance ≤ 8 during last 12 months and age, marital status, education level, consumption of alcohol, tobacco or illicit narcotics usage of the patients or family members, monthly income, and distance between clinic and residence.CONCLUSION: Alcohol usage was higher among mental health patients. Being a male patient, alcohol consumption of caregiver and high family income were associated with alcohol usage of patients. Usage of those substances did not significantly affect the clinic attendance.