Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41094619›Full record

ArticleArchives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique2025

The severity of Tramadol misuse among youth in urban informal settlements in Ghana: patterns, co-use, and sociodemographic factors.

Solomon Osei-Tutu, Obed Jones Owusu-Sarpong, Felix Asante, Williams Agyemang-Duah, Lawrencia Pokuah Siaw, Isaac Obeng Darkwa, Razak M Gyasi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Solomon Osei-TutuDepartment of Social Science, Offinso College of Education, Box 7, Offinso, Ashanti Region, Ghana. oseitutu87@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-2537-8513
Obed Jones Owusu-SarpongDepartment of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-5418-4093
Felix AsanteDepartment of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0601-6877
Williams Agyemang-DuahDepartment of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7929-0685
Lawrencia Pokuah SiawDepartment of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4392-4604
Isaac Obeng DarkwaDepartment of Social Science, Offinso College of Education, Box 7, Offinso, Ashanti Region, Ghana.
Razak M GyasiAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6733-1539

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTramadol misuse poses a significant public health and safety risk globally. However, research on this topic is limited in informal settlements, particularly among youth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We assessed the trends, frequency, and social factors associated with the severity of Tramadol misuse among the youth residing in urban informal settlements in Ghana.

methodsCross-sectional data from 200 individuals who use Tramadol aged 15–35 years from selected communities in the Asokore Mampong Municipality were analyzed. The severity of Tramadol misuse was assessed with the item “Have you ever used Tramadol for any reason other than medical? If yes, how often do you take Tramadol?” with a 5-point response scale. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression models evaluated the associations between sociodemographic factors and the severity of Tramadol misuse.

resultsTramadol was used daily (44.5%), multiple times (68.5%), and in combination with other substances, mainly energy drinks (60%) or alcohol (12.5%). Our regression models showed that being younger (aOR = 0.87; 95%CI = 0.42–0.98); male (aOR = 1.87; 95%CI = 1.16–2.29); unemployed individuals (OR = 1.02; 95%CI = 1.50–2.86), and having low income (GH¢300–699[US$19.3–45]: aOR = 2.16; 95%CI = 1.01–4.65); < GH¢300[US$ 19.3]: aOR = 2.59; 95%CI = 1.13–5.95) were associated with higher odds for severity of Tramadol misuse. Having higher education (high school: aOR = 0.64; 95%CI = 0.25–0.96); tertiary (aOR = 0.58; 95%CI = 0.23–0.89), lowers the odds for the severity of Tramadol misuse.

conclusionChallenged social well-being indicators relate to the severity of Tramadol misuse among youth in urban informal settlements in Ghana. Interventions of regular drug surveillance, drug use educational programs, and the creation of gainful employment may help reduce Tramadol and other substance misuse among youth living in informal settlements.

Indexed as

GhanaInformal settlementsNon-medical useOpioidsTramadolYouth

Identifiers

PMID41094619
PMCPMC12523192

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.