Associations of childhood experiences and methamphetamine use among Akha and Lahu hill tribe youths in northern Thailand: A cross-sectional study

Background Methamphetamine (MA) is a commonly used substance among youths, particularly those who are living in poor economic conditions with low levels of education and who have had bad childhood experiences. The Akha and Lahu hill tribe youths living on the Thailand-Myanmar-Laos border are identified as the group most vulnerable to MA use in Thailand. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MA use and determine its associations with childhood experiences among Akha and Lahu youths aged 15-24 years in northern Thailand. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed. Validated and sealed questionnaires were used to gather information from participants after obtaining the informed consent form. Questionnaires were completed by participants and their parents at home. Logistic regression was used to identify the associations between variables at the alpha = 0.05 level. Results A total of 710 participants participated in the study: 54.2% were Akha, 52.5% were females, 50.6% were aged 15-17 years, and 11.4% did not have Thai identification card (ID) cards. The overall prevalence of MA use at least once among Akha and Lahu youths was 14.5%. After controlling for all potential confounding factors, 8 variables were found to be associated with MA use. Males had a greater chance of MA use than females (AOR = 4.75; 95% CI = 2.27-9.95). Participants aged 21-24 years had a greater chance of MA use than those aged 15-17 years (AOR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.11-5.71). Those who had a family member who used MA had a greater chance of MA use than those who did not (AOR = 5.04; 95% CI = 1.66-15.32). Those who had been physically assaulted by a family member while aged 0-5 years had a greater chance of MA use than those who had not (AOR = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.02-5.12). Those who had been physically assaulted by a family member while aged 6-14 years had a greater chance of MA use than those who had not (AOR = 3.15; 95% CI = 1.32-7.54). Those who had a close friend who used alcohol had a greater chance of MA use than those who did not (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI = 1.24-4.72). Those who had a highly confident personality had a greater chance of MA use than those who did not (AOR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.17-4.69), and those who smoked had a greater chance of MA use than those who did not (AOR = 8.27; 95% CI = 4.42-15.46). Conclusions All relevant government and nongovernment agencies together with the Ministry of Public Health Thailand should address MA use among Akha and Lahu youths by properly developing a community health intervention that lowers risk of MA use by addressing family relationships, male youth behaviors, and focused on those individuals with a highly confident personality.