Peer-influence, substance Use and risky sexual behaviors among school going adolescent refugees in Kyaka II and Kyangwali refugee settlements in Western Uganda.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between peer influence, substance use and risky sexual behaviors among school going adolescent refugees in Kyaka 11 and Kyangwali refugee settlements in Western Uganda. Objectives included: examining relationships between peer influence and substance use; substance use and risky sexual behaviours, peer influence and risky sexual behaviours; and substance use mediates the relationship between peer influence and risky sexual behaviours.Simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of 136 senior one to senior four students (48 males and 88 females) from two secondary schools in Kyaka and Kyangwali refugee settlements in western Uganda. A correlation research design was employed and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the first three study hypotheses and while PROCESS was to be used in testing the fourth hypothesis.The outcome of this study indicated that while peer influence was significantly related to risky sexual behaviors(r =.243, p >0.05),there was no significant relationship between peer influence and substance use(r = -.101, P > 0.05), neither was there an association between substance use and risky sexual behaviours (r = -.050, p >0.05). The fourth hypothesis was not tested because there was violation of the basic rule stating that all the three relationships must be significantly related to run a mediation analysis.The results of this study indicate that adolescent refugee students who experience peer influence might engage in substance use. Putting guidelines in place to monitor and discourage substance use among school going adolescents might help learners’ study in a safer-environment.