Ubumi - Substance Use Disorders National Prevalence Study

Project Timeline: 2O25

About Ubumi Prisons Initiative

Ubumi Prisons Initiative (Ubumi) works to improve the health of vulnerable groups in Zambian correctional facilities. This includes children O-18 (including circumstantial children and children in conflict with the law), pregnant women, mothers, and seriously ill people, as well as the psychologically vulnerable. Support programs include health, including mental health, sanitation, education, skills-building, safeguarding and reintegration interventions inside and outside of correctional centres.

Brief

Explore the needs of both incarcerated people and correctional staff based in large-scale Zambian correctional facilities regarding support for and prevalence of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and associated support mechanisms needed.

What We're Doing

End-to-end design of this mixed methods study, which includes adaptions to an established screening tool (ASSIST) to support the identification of substance use disorders within a correctional setting, as well as the development of a qualitative methodology to generate honest insights from incarcerated populations and correctional staff. The survey and interviews will be conducted across multiple provinces in Zambia, alongside a literature review of other similar, prevalence studies. Namvela will support with dissemination of the findings to government and sector stakeholders. This will be the first ever prevalence study of SUDs in correctional facilities in Zambia.