Socio-cultural drivers of substance abuse among women in South Africa: Social workers' perspectives

Abstract

Substance abuse is a growing concern with challenging socio-cultural issues among women in South Africa. This study draws from the social workers' perspective to explore the prevalence and drivers of substance use among women. Using a qualitative approach, an exploratory design was employed to gather data through in-depth interviews with social workers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study’s findings highlight that domestic violence is often a catalyst, leading women to substances as mechanisms for coping with stress, depression, and adversity. Social workers identified the desire for belonging within the social network, and peer pressure normalizes substance use, especially in social gatherings where drugs and substances are easily available and affordable. Unresolved childhood trauma was also flagged as a critical contributor to the prevalence of substance abuse, establishing emotional vulnerabilities. The study shows how these factors influence substance use trajectories among women. It further recommends culturally responsive interventions that incorporate trauma-informed care and community-based support systems, with social workers playing a crucial role in prevention and rehabilitation efforts. The study was grounded in the universal ethical standards to protect the participants and maintain its integrity.

Keywords: {'name': 'Intervention'}, {'name': 'social work'}, {'name': 'soci0-cultural drivers'}, {'name': 'substance use'}, {'name': 'women'}

Authors & affiliations

Dzunisani Euginea Baloyi
University of Venda

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

Argento, E. M. (2019). Exploring trajectories of drug use, violence, and suicidality among marginalized women: Avenues of intervention and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics (Doctoral dissertation, University of British Columbia). https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0379503

Arpa, S. (2017). Women who use drugs: Issues, needs, responses, challenges and implications for policy and practice. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

Creswell, J. W. (2014). The selection of a research approach. In J. W. Creswell, Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage.

DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2018/4451

DOI: 10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.038

Department of Social Development. (2020). National drug master plan 2019–2024. Republic of South Africa.

DOI: 10.25159/2415-5829/3083

Ellis, E. (2020, June 18). Presidential address: Gender-based violence is South Africa’s second pandemic, says Ramaphosa. Daily Maverick. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-06-18-gender-based-violence-is-south-africas-second-pandemic-says-ramaphosa/

DOI: 10.15270/59-3-1132

DOI: 10.1108/MEDAR-10-2016-0083

DOI: 10.1177/104973202129120052

DOI: 10.1111/hojo.12216

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.06.031

DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czac012

DOI: 10.1007/s00127-015-1088-0

DOI: 10.1186/s12954-015-0064-z

DOI: 10.1111/cfs.13272

DOI: 10.1155/2015/831954

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2013.09.005

Konzelman, C. (2020). Barriers to accessing substance use disorder treatment: A providers’ perspective (Unpublished thesis). University of Manitoba.

DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.161491

Langeveld, L. (2020). Exploring the perceptions of staff regarding the services offered at a substance abuse rehabilitation centre for women in Cape Town (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of the Western Cape.

Lee, N., & Boerie, M. (2017). Managing stigma: Women drug users and recovery services. Fusio, 1(2), 65–94.

DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2016.1150853

DOI: 10.1080/15433714.2012.759834

Manganyi, M. R. (2015). Home-brewed alcohol as a public health problem in Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Mopani District of Limpopo Province: A social work perspective (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Limpopo.

McAfee, N. (2018). Feminist philosophy. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (Fall 2018 ed.). https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2018/entries/feminist-philosophy/

Moyana, W. (2019). The utilisation of the continuum of care for treatment of persons with a substance use disorder: Service providers’ and service users’ experiences and perceptions (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of South Africa.

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.12.019

DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103061

Namadi, M. M., & Haruna, M. O. (2019). Prevalence and causes of substance abuse among females in Gombe Metropolis, Gombe State, Nigeria. International Journal of Development and Management Review, 14(1), 76–84.

Ndou, N. (2019). Factors influencing relapse in individuals with substance use disorders: Views of social workers employed in treatment centres (Unpublished master’s thesis). Stellenbosch University.

DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1775866

DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2018.1544391

Pacher, C. J. (2019). Social workers’ perceptions of barriers to substance abuse treatment in Mississippi (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Walden University.

DOI: 10.1177/0959353517714594

Rasool, S. (2019). Feminisms. In A. Van Breda & J. Sekudu (Eds.), Theories for decolonial social work in South Africa (pp. 157–177). Oxford University Press.

DOI: 10.1016/S0955-3959(02)00007-5

DOI: 10.1080/09595230500102434

Schurink, W. S., Schurink, E. M., & Fouché, C. B. (2021). Qualitative data analysis and interpretation. In C. B. Fouché, H. Strydom, & W. J. H. Roestenburg (Eds.), Research at grassroots for the social science and human service professions (5th ed., pp. 391–415). Van Schaik.

DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2019.1680481

Smith, L. A. (2017). Effectiveness of substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant or parenting women in Wyoming (Master’s thesis). University of Wyoming. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (ProQuest No. 10277021)

DOI: 10.1177/0192513X15581659

Strydom, H. (2021). Sampling techniques and pilot qualitative research. In C. B. Fouché, H. Strydom, & W. J. H. Roestenburg (Eds.), Research at grassroots for the social science and human service professions (5th ed., pp. 379–389). Van Schaik.

Strydom, H., & Roestenburg, W. J. H. (2021). Ethical conduct in research with human participants. In C. B. Fouché, H. Strydom, & W. J. H. Roestenburg (Eds.), Research at grassroots for the social science and human service professions (5th ed., pp. 117–136). Van Schaik.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2018). Drug use and gender: Women and substance use. https://www.unodc.org/documents/drug-prevention-and-treatment/UNODC_2018_Gender_and_Drugs.pdf

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2023). World drug report 2023: Contemporary issues on drugs. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/wdr2023.html