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. 2019 Dec 30:34:214.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2019.34.214.12851. eCollection 2019.

Social ecological factors affecting substance abuse in Ghana (West Africa) using photovoice

Ahmed Kabore  1   2   3 , Evans Afriyie-Gyawu  1 , James Awuah  4 , Andrew Hansen  1 , Ashley Walker  1 , Melissa Hester  1 , Moussa Aziz Wonadé Sié  2 , Jarrett Johnson  1 , Nicolas Meda  2   3
Affiliations

Social ecological factors affecting substance abuse in Ghana (West Africa) using photovoice

Ahmed Kabore et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: Substance abuse is an important public health issue affecting West Africa; however, there is currently a dearth of literature on the actions needed to address it. The aim of this study was to assess the risks and protective factors of substance abuse in Ghana, West Africa, using the photovoice method.

Methods: This study recruited and trained 10 participants in recovery from substance abuse and undergoing treatment in the greater Accra region of Ghana on the photovoice methodology. Each participant received a disposable camera to take pictures that represented the risk and protective factors pertinent to substance abuse in their communities. They were also given the opportunity to provide narratives of the pictures using pre-identified themes and the different levels of the social-ecological model and participatory action research (PAR).

Results: Participants identified at the individual level: ignorance; interpersonal level: family and peer pressure; organizational level: lack of regulation; community level: media, availability of drugs, cost of drugs, urbanization, slum communities and cultural factors; and policy level: lack of regulations and their enforcement. Education and beliefs were cited at the individual level; family at the interpersonal level; religion at the organizational level; organizing youth, media and narcotics anonymous at the community level; and nothing at the policy level.

Conclusion: This is an exploratory study that will add to the limited body of knowledge in the scientific literature with respect to substance abuse in the country and also help develop interventions to address the respective needs of several communities in Ghana.

Keywords: Substance abuse; West Africa; drug addiction; illicit drugs; mental health; protective factors; risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A photo of shanty towns in Accra illustrates the canal of drug addiction; the slums spread over 5km and the only business they do there is selling drugs
Figure 2
Figure 2
A canoe at the seashore: canoes are used to transport the drugs that come from South America from the high seas to the seashore, with canoes, it is easy to bring the drugs into Accra, Ghana
Figure 3
Figure 3
A photo of a church in Accra illustrates the role of religious groups in the fight against substance abuse in Ghana
Figure 4
Figure 4
An open football field illustrates that youths in Ghana do not need much to practice a sport
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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