Peer influence, drug abuse and risk behaviors among adolescents in Busoga high school, Kamuli district.

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between Peer influence, drug abuse and risk behaviors among adolescents in Kamuli district, the objectives of this study focused on examining the relationship between Peer influence and drug abuse, the relationship between drug abuse and risky sexual behavior and well as the relationship between peer influence and risky sexual behavior. The research adopted a correlational study design to establish the relationship between Peer influence, drug abuse and risk behaviors among adolescents in Kamuli district. A total of 50 respondents were purposely selected to participate in the study since the method was appropriate as the researcher used her own judgment to select the respondents. Data collection was done using self-administered questionnaires and was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (r) was then applied to determine the level of the hypothesis. Results showed that there was no significant relationship between peer influence and drug abuse, there is no significant relationship between drug abuse and risky sexual behavior and finally there is a significant relationship between peer influence and risky sexual behavior. Recommendation: Address the social-economic hardships, poverty and parental neglect among school adolescents as a strategy to mitigate temptations and circumstances leading to adolescent engagement in risky sexual behaviors. This can be through alternative skills educational opportunities created for school adolescents as strategies to improve the economic livelihood and avenues to spend the excess created time due to school drop-out