Guiding the young: Stakeholders' perspectives on preventing substance use among school children in Pokhara, Nepal.

INTRODUCTION

Adolescence is a phase of life that bridges childhood and adulthood, characterized by neurobiological, physiological, psychological, and social maturation. During this period, children will engage in risky behaviours such as drug use.

AIM: This study explores the perceptions and suggestions of healthcare professionals and school teachers regarding the prevention of substance use among school-aged children, with the goal of utilizing their views to develop and implement a contextually relevant school-based substance use prevention programme in Pokhara, Nepal.

METHODS

A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive design employing focus group discussion (FGD) was used. Three FGDs were conducted in Pokhara, Nepal; two with school teachers (n = 10) and one with healthcare professionals (n = 8) to capture the insights of two separate groups of stakeholders. Ethical approval was obtained from the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC, No. 276/2023). All qualitative data were transcribed and translated from Nepali into English. Codes were identified, grouped into subthemes, and clustered into themes using Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework for thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The results were grouped under five main themes: (1) individual vulnerability and protective factors, (2) Peer and family influences, (3) School systems and service capacity, (4) Community environment, and social norms, and (5) Law and policy. The study also generated twenty-two subthemes.

CONCLUSION

The findings revealed stakeholders' perceptions and suggestions regarding the prevention of substance use among schoolchildren in Nepal. The study identified peer pressure, curiosity, and imitation as the primary causes of substance use initiation among adolescents in Pokhara, Nepal.