15 October 2014 Volume :2 Issue :53

Study Calls for Closer Look at Substance Abuse in Rural KZN Community

Rural Health advocate, Mr December Mpanza.

A study conducted by a Senior Tutor of Occupational Therapy (OT) at UKZN has raised awareness about the incidence and consequences of substance abuse in the uMkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal.

Mr December Mpanza presented the findings from his masters research at the 18^th Rural Health Conference in Cape Town, saying that substance abuse remains a neglected issue in rural areas.

Mpanza’s study was titled: “Rural Health Realities Versus Substance Abuse Service Providers in South Africa”.

Mpanza grew up in Mbazwana near Sodwana Bay in the uMkhanyakude District of northern KwaZulu-Natal. He studied at UKZN and then worked at Bethesda Hospital in the uMkhanyakude Health District before returning to UKZN to further his studies.

He observed that substance abuse ruined the lives of many youngsters and the people around them, and also placed a huge burden on health care providers, increasing treatment demands when in fact the problem could be prevented at its roots.

This inspired him to register for a masters degree in Occupational Therapy and to revisit the uMkhanyakude rural district to try to solve some of its on-going challenges.

Mpanza defines substance (drug) abuse as the sustained or sporadic excessive use of substances, including those considered illicit and unlawful. He said it was a major challenge in the uMkhanyakude district because substance abuse-induced psychosis was rife, leading to further problems within the community.

Mpanza says mental health is neglected and not integrated to primary health care and this needs urgent attention from the relevant government departments.

He said several factors caused substance abuse in the district, including the fact that youngsters took drugs because of peer pressure; stress and unemployment.

Not only were the common drugs readily available to the community but local traditions and culture also contributed to the problem as in some instances youngsters were expected to sip traditional brew as a way of respecting the ancestors during traditional ceremonies. In this way, young people were getting exposed to the alcohol, Mpanza explained.

Another concern for Mpanza was that there were local festivals, such as the Amarula Festival, where drinking alcohol is promoted. ‘It is critical to ensure that the age limit for consuming alcohol is always strictly enforced,’ he said.

As a way of addressing these challenges and honouring his role as a researcher, Mpanza plans to share his findings and disseminate all information with the relevant people and departments, including traditional leadership and the Department of Arts and Culture.

‘Research is liberating, therefore it is important that the message is crystal clear to authorities and policy makers so that when they make policies they are sensitive to rural health.  It is important to push the agenda of what is happening in the rural areas and provide solutions,’ Mpanza explained.

Mpanza, who is a member of Rural Rehab South Africa, said he was grateful that UKZN’s OT Discipline and College of Health Sciences granted him time and funding to conduct his research in the uMkhanyakude District.

‘It is a challenge to do research in rural areas. Time is a limiting factor and costs can become excessive.’

Mpanza intends pursuing his PhD next year and will again focus on rural health as it is his passion and concern.

 Lunga Memela

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