Substance use and mental health disorders comorbidity among young and older adolescents: evidence from a secondary analysis of a large cross-sectional survey in Tanzania, East Africa
1
School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2556
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Co-morbidity between substance use and mental health disorders among adolescents is a growing global public health concern, associated with poorer clinical and social outcomes (1,2). Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by biological and social changes that increase vulnerability to both conditions and their co-occurrence (1,3,4). Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania, remains limited, as most studies examine the disorders separately (5,6-8). This study aims to determine the prevalence and determinants of substance use and mental health disorder co-morbidity among adolescents aged 10–19 years in the Tanga region, Tanzania, using secondary analysis of a large cross-sectional survey.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional analytical study uses secondary data from a population-based survey conducted in 2021 by the Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH)(6). The analysis includes in-school and out-of-school adolescents aged 10–19 years. Co-morbidity is defined as concurrent substance use in the past 30 days preceding the primary survey (cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or other illicit drugs) and a mental health disorder (depression and/or suicide risk). Depression is defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥5, while suicide risk is based on suicidal ideation in the past month preceding the survey or a lifetime history of attempt. Exposures include sociodemographic characteristics, employment history, mobile phone ownership, social media use, parental survival status, sexual history, and self-reported HIV status. Descriptive statistics are used to estimate prevalence, and chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression models are used to identify determinants.
RESULTS:
The dataset included 1,262 adolescents, of whom 1,031 were in school, and 231 were out of school. Data analysis is ongoing.
CONCLUSIONS:
Substance use and mental health disorder co-morbidity is a major concern among adolescents. Findings from this study will enhance understanding of this co-morbidity among Tanzanian adolescents and inform interventions and policies addressing both conditions in Tanzania and across Africa.
Co-morbidity between substance use and mental health disorders among adolescents is a growing global public health concern, associated with poorer clinical and social outcomes (1,2). Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by biological and social changes that increase vulnerability to both conditions and their co-occurrence (1,3,4). Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania, remains limited, as most studies examine the disorders separately (5,6-8). This study aims to determine the prevalence and determinants of substance use and mental health disorder co-morbidity among adolescents aged 10–19 years in the Tanga region, Tanzania, using secondary analysis of a large cross-sectional survey.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional analytical study uses secondary data from a population-based survey conducted in 2021 by the Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH)(6). The analysis includes in-school and out-of-school adolescents aged 10–19 years. Co-morbidity is defined as concurrent substance use in the past 30 days preceding the primary survey (cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or other illicit drugs) and a mental health disorder (depression and/or suicide risk). Depression is defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥5, while suicide risk is based on suicidal ideation in the past month preceding the survey or a lifetime history of attempt. Exposures include sociodemographic characteristics, employment history, mobile phone ownership, social media use, parental survival status, sexual history, and self-reported HIV status. Descriptive statistics are used to estimate prevalence, and chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression models are used to identify determinants.
RESULTS:
The dataset included 1,262 adolescents, of whom 1,031 were in school, and 231 were out of school. Data analysis is ongoing.
CONCLUSIONS:
Substance use and mental health disorder co-morbidity is a major concern among adolescents. Findings from this study will enhance understanding of this co-morbidity among Tanzanian adolescents and inform interventions and policies addressing both conditions in Tanzania and across Africa.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
