Browsing by Author "Florence Tutaryebwa"

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Depression Predicts Substance Use among Forcibly Displaced Migrants :
(Scientific Research Publishing, 2025-05-20) Florence Tutaryebwa; Jacquiline Kyomuhendo3; Henry Kibedi; Joseph Namanya; Ronald Bahati
Background: Depression has been recorded among forcibly displaced populations especially refugees. Conditions in which refugees find themselves make them predominantly susceptible to substance use as a coping mechanism. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, substance use and the association between depression and substance use among refugees living in Mbarara city, southwestern Uganda. Methods: African refugees who had settled in Mbarara city for at least twelve months before the study totaling 343 were assessed on the prevalence of depression and substance use. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) while Substance use was measured using The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-10) for alcohol and The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-20) was used to measure the prevalence of other substances other than alcohol. Using SPSS-V26, descriptive statistics were calculated to determine the prevalence of refugee depression and substance use. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations between the predictor and outcome variables in step1. Results: The prevalence of depression in the current study was 81% (n = 276). There were no gender differences in the prevalence of depression (χ2 = 0.745, p = 0.389). The prevalence of alcohol use was 43% (n = 146). The prevalence of other substance use other than alcohol was 42% (n = 143). Results showed (χ2 = 8.227, p = 0.042). However, there were no significant differences in alcohol use categories across gender (χ2 = 1.348, p = 0.718). Results indicated that participants who experienced depression were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of alcohol use (p < 0.001; OR = 1.24; 95% CI; 1.17 to 1.31) and use of other substances (p < 0.001; OR = 1.32; 95% CI; 1.23 to 1.41). Conclusion: The study results revealed that participants who had depression were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of substance use irrespective of the demographic characteristics. We also recommended that clinical interventions focused on the treatment of depression among refugee communities should focus on substance use as well.
Social Support Moderates the Stigma of Being a Refugee
(Scientific Research Publishing, 2024) Ronald Bahati; Florence Tutaryebwa; Eriah Kambere; Noel Kansiime; Annah Assiimwe Tibazindwa; Gershom Atukunda
Background: Social support has been documented as playing an important and positive role in the health and well-being of refugees right from escape from their country of origin to their final new settlement. It relates to the experience of being valued, respected, cared about, and loved by others who are present in one’s life. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of stigma and the association between social support and stigma among African refugees living in Mbarara city, southwestern Uganda. Methods: African refugees who had settled in Mbarara city for at least twelve months before the study totaling 343 were assessed on the prevalence of stigma and the role perceived social support in their daily functioning. Stigma was measured by the Discrimination and Stigma Scale-12 while social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MDSPSS). Using SPSSV26, descriptive statistics were calculated to determine the prevalence of refugee stigma. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the associations between the predictor and outcome variables. Results: Most of the participants 84% (n = 288) reported to have experienced stigma. Of these, 122 (36%) were females and 166 (48%) were males. Results revealed that 56% (n = 193) of the participants reported to have experienced enacted stigma whereas 70% refugees living in urban areas in Uganda. However, a unit increase in the level of social support reduces the level of stigma experienced. We recommend that interventions that improve social support networks of refugees in urban areas to be designed. (n = 239) experienced internalized stigma. There were no significant differences across gender in the experience of stigma (χ2 = 4.006, p = 0.940). Results of the hierarchical linear model showed that social support had a statisically significant negative association with stigma (b = −0.44; 95% CI −0.51 to −0.36). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of stigma among African