Determinants of Cannabis Use Among Psychotics in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: <i>A cross-sectional study</i>

Abstract

<i>Background and aim</i>: The relationship between cannabis use and psychosis is well established, but the determinants of this use in psychotics in developing countries are lacking. The aim of this study is to identify the determinants of cannabis use among psychotics in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. <i>Methods</i>: This cross-sectional and analytical study included 321 psychotics carried at the Neuropsycho-pathological Center of the University of Kinshasa out from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. The variables of interest were socio-demographic parameters, cannabis use and diagnoses of psychosis. A logistic regression model identified the determinants of cannabis use. The threshold of statistical significance was p<0.05. <i>Results</i>: The mean age of cannabis users was 30.9 ± 8.7 years with a sex ratio of 12 M / 1F. They represented 37% of psychotics of which 51% were of no religion and 55% were schizophrenics, 77% had tobacco-alcohol co-use, 83% had high education level and 78% were single. The determinants of cannabis use were male (aOR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.27-3.18; P<0.003), not belonging to a religion (aOR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.24-4.80; p=0.010), tobacco co-consumption (aOR=9.12 95% CI: 4.35-19.13; p<0.001), alcohol (aOR=4.39, 95% CI: 2.22-8.71; p<0.001) and schizophrenia (aOR=2.29 95% CI: 1.15-3, 19.13; P=0.019). <i>Conclusion</i>: The prevalence of cannabis use among psychotics was high. They were young male schizophrenics, without religion, single with co-consumption of tobacco and alcohol. The determinants were male gender, non-religious affiliation, tobacco-alcohol co-consumption and schizophrenia.