Unraveling substance abuse among Malawian street children: A qualitative exploration

Abstract

This qualitative study adopts a phenomenological and symbolic interactionist approach to comprehensively explore substance abuse among street children in Lilongwe, Malawi. The research aims to uncover the complex sociocultural, economic, and environmental determinants influencing substance abuse within this marginalized cohort. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews, the study engages with street children to understand their subjective experiences, perceptions, and interpretations of substance abuse within their community context. Employing convenience, purposive, and snowball sampling strategies, the research collected data from street children, acknowledging their transient nature and societal challenges. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts to derive comprehensive insights. Results revealed five key thematic areas: familial absence and emotional void, societal normalization and peer pressure, economic hardships, coping mechanisms, environmental accessibility, and peer influence and belongingness. These themes highlighted the intricate interplay between personal experiences, socio-environmental factors, and peer dynamics, shaping the prevalence and persistence of substance abuse among street children. This study’s implications for practice underscore the need for tailored interventions and support mechanisms addressing substance abuse within this demographic. It emphasizes the urgency for context-specific strategies and policy formulations aimed at ameliorating the challenges faced by street children dealing with substance abuse in Malawi. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of substance abuse among marginalized street children, advocating for compassionate and contextually sensitive interventions within this overlooked drug abusers’ population subset.

Unraveling agricultural water pollution despite an ecological policy in the Ayeyarwady Basin

“…This deficiency also affects resource allocation, leading to suboptimal use of funds, human resources, and technology, and exacerbates conflicts between ecological conservation and developmental objectives. To minimize the chance of such conflicts, Banda et al emphasize the importance of tailored interventions and support mechanisms addressing challenges within given demographics [ 45 ]. Thus, consistent with extant literature, our results indicate that coordinated efforts are crucial for effective environmental policy execution [ 31 , 46 – 51 ].…”

“…These insights are vital for formulating policies that balance economic resilience, ecosystem protection, and sustainable growth. Banda et al advocate for compassionate and contextually sensitive interventions, a recommendation that is equally pertinent for addressing the long-term impacts of policies [ 45 ]. Moreover, the study contributes to the broader discourse on Sustainable Development Goals by amalgamating diverse perspectives from farmers, public officials, and experts.…”