IMPACT OF DRUG ABUSE ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

1.1 Introduction

Drug abuse has hampered the country's overall ability to develop sustainably. In developing nations like Nigeria, substance misuse is a major problem that affects the entire world. The impact of drug usage on Nigeria's youth and the country at large has made it a worldwide concern. In many universities around the world, drug misuse has a detrimental effect on undergraduate education. A significant issue for social, individual, and public health, drug misuse is also thought to exacerbate economic downturns and, thus, to contribute to Nigeria's poverty. Drug abusers' behaviors put them at risk for criminality and infectious diseases, and their general health is severely impacted.

This chapter will address the background information that motivated this study, the challenges that prompted it, its aim, and its objectives as a preface to subsequent sections of the study. Additional factors include the study's significance, scope, limitations, research questions and hypotheses, and the definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Survey by World Health Organization reveals that young people are exposed to alcohol at many levels in society, particularly through advertising and peer pressure. As a result, harmful drinking habits are on the rise among adolescents and other youth. The 73 countries that responded to a World Health Organization (WHO) survey on alcohol and health, 71 percent reported that underage drinking had increased in the previous five years. And vulnerable young people, such as street youth and sex hawkers, are at far greater risk of early initiation of alcohol use and frequent consumption of drugs than the general young population. Many of the negative consequences that can result from alcohol use have been well documented, including drugs-related accidents and injuries, alcohol fueled homicide and suicide, drugs dependence, and alcohol poisoning. This brief describes the consequences of drugs use on young people’s sexual and reproductive health. It also addresses policies and programs aimed at reducing alcohol use and its negative consequences among young people as well as programmatic responses to drugs use and abuse.

Drug abuse being, an extreme desire to obtain and use increasing amount of one or more substance, this include alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, cigarettes, codeine and other substances which are harmful to the health of the individual. When considering drug abuse one should be able to differentiate it from drugs dependence or drugs addiction, which is the physical dependence on drugs to function.Despite the unrelenting effort of individuals, agencies, mass media and the government at different levels against drug abuse, the prevalent practice among secondary school students, and even adults in the community has not reduced but on the increase geometrically.The World Health Organization (WHO), defines drug as any substance other than those required for maintenance of normal health, which when taken into the living organism, may modify one or more of its functions (Ghodse, 2003).

According to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Report (2005), about 200 million people, or 5 percent of the world’s population age between 15 and 65 have used drugs at least once in the last 12 months. Likewise, according to the World Drug (2005) reported that, the use of illicit drugs in all Nations has increased in recent years. The report goes on to note that the increasing availability of a variety of drugs to an ever widening socio-economic spectrum of consumers is disconcerting, although the main problem at the global level continues to be opiates (notably heroine) followed by cocaine. Drug abuse and other associated problems are inimical to the survival and effective functioning of human societies. A significant number of health hazards, untimely deaths, and accidents have been linked with the activities of persons under the influence of one drug or the other. Over the past two decades, the abuse of drugs in Kenya has rapidly increased and risen to unprecedented level and no part of the country is safe from the scourge (Ngesu et al, 2008).

Many people have defined drug abuse in different ways neglecting it actual causes. In medicine, drugs refer to any substance with the potential to prevent or cure diseases. Drugs can be legal or illegal. Drug abuse refers to non-medical use of drugs.

The reproductive system consists of organs that function in the production of offspring. The female reproductive system produces the female reproductive cells (the eggs, or ova) and contains an organ (uterus) in which development of the fetus takes place; the male reproductive system produces the male reproductive cells (the sperm) and contains an organ (penis) that deposits the sperm within the female. The external female reproductive organs collectively are called the vulva (which means “covering” in Latin). The vulva serves to protect the urethral and vaginal openings and is highly sensitive to touch to increase the female’s pleasure during sexual arousal (Coad & Dunstall, 2005). The structures that make up the vulva include the mons pubis, the labia majora and minora, the clitoris, the structures within the vestibule, and the perineum. in the male reproductive system, the testes are inside a baglike structure called the scrotum. It hangs outside the male’s body cavity, which keeps the testes slightly cooler than the rest of the body. Normal human body temperature is too warm for sperm production. The cooler temperature in the scrotum enables sperm production.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that alcohol and cigarette are said to be legal, but these substances have also led to the initiation of other more potent drugs like heroin and cocaine. Abuse of drugs has created several health issues and dangers in our society today. Such as miscarriages, mental illness, cancer of the lungs, cultism, gangsters, rape cases and even juvenile delinquency.

The alarming rate of drug in the southern Ijaw L.G.A is very common and it effects are so numerous. This study, therefore, attempts to investigate the contributions of family background, peer groups and family cohesion to drug abuse on reproductive health among male and female in Bayelsa, State.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine Impact of Drug Abuse on Reproductive Health in Southern Ijaw L.G.A, Bayelsa State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the impact of drug abuse on reproductive of pregnant women in southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State;
2. To ascertain if there is any significant relationship between drug usage and a woman’s reproductive health;
3. To examine the causes of drug abuse among Southern Ijaw people in Bayelsa State; and
4. To ascertain if there is any significant difference in the causes of drug abuse between men and women in Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Is there any significant relationship between drug usage and a woman’s reproductive health?
• Is there any significant difference in the causes of drug abuse between men and women in Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State?
• What are the causes of drug abuse among southern Ijaw people in Bayelsa State?
• What is the impact of drug abuse on reproductive of pregnant women in Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant relationship between drug usage and a woman’s reproductive health.
• H1: There is significant relationship between drug usage and a woman’s reproductive health.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant effect of drugs abuse on the reproductive health of pregnant women in Southern Ijaw L.G.A.
• H1: There is a significant effect of drugs abuse on the reproductive health of pregnant women in Southern Ijaw L.G.A.

1.7 Significance of Study

The findings will be of utmost benefits to married men and women as it serves as a means of curtailing the effects of drugs on their reproductive system. The findings will be relevant to those who will want to carry out a similar research topic as it has contributed to the existing literature.

Finally, the study will be relevance to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other relevant bodies in combating drug abuse and addiction on our schools and campuses.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

This scope of this research is focused on the impact of drug abuse on health of the southern people of Ijaw, Bayelsa State, in relation to their family background, family cohesion, peer group influence, and it effects on their reproductive system.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:

1. Time Constraint:The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Definition of Terms

Reproductive System:

The reproductive system or genital system is a system of sex organs within an organism which work together for the purpose of sexual reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are also important accessories to the reproductive system.

Drug:

A drug is any substance (other than food that provides nutritional support) that, when inhaled, injected, smoked, consumed, absorbed via a patch on the skin, or dissolved under the tongue causes a physiological change in the body.

Drug Abuse:

A drug is said to be abused when its use is not pharmacological or physically necessary it can also be used to describe a situation whereby the dosage of a given drug is exceeded by the user.