Sleep problems associated with exposure to or use of psychoactive substances among residents in a slum setting in Uganda

Abstract

Background Adult substance use may be a significant predictor of sleeping problems, according to extant research. Children exposed to secondhand (SHS) also have a high likelihood of sleep problems. There is limited information on the relationships between exposure to psychoactive substances and subsequent sleep issues in adults and children, particularly in Uganda. We set out to assess the links between exposure to psychoactive substances and sleep problems in adults and children. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 284 adults in a slum setting in Kampala, Uganda. We assessed self-reported sleeping problems among adults (sleep duration, insomnia, sleep dissatisfaction) and sleep-disordered breathing disorder (SBD) among children. We also assessed children's early-life SHS exposure (during pregnancy and the first six months of life) using questionnaires. Using a generalized linear model of the Poisson family, we estimated the association between sleeping problems and psychoactive substance use (adults) and SHS exposure (children). Results On working days, 59.2% of adults reported sleeping less than 7 hours, and 28.3% expressed dissatisfaction with their sleep patterns and durations. Approximately 39.6% of the children were reported to have sleep-disordered breathing problems. Among adults, sleep dissatisfaction was associated with alcohol use (PR = 1.78(1.20 - 2.64)). Compared to unexposed counterparts, children, exposed to both prenatal SHS and within the first six months of life had a higher risk of SBD (PR= 1.81, 95%CI 1.23 – 2.67). Conclusions Alcohol was linked to sleep dissatisfaction among adults while earlier life exposure to SHS was associated with an increased risk of SBD problems in children. This emphasizes the need to support ongoing public health initiatives and maintain a smoke-free environment, particularly for children in their early life.