Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 121 | Published: 15 Oct 2026
1Biakoye District, Ghana Health Service, Oti Region, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Eyram Kuma Hanu, Biakoye District, Ghana Health Service, Oti Region, Ghana, Email: medeyram@gmail.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8708-5400
Received: 11 Mar 2026, Accepted: 30 Aug 2026, Published: 15 Oct 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Substance abuse, social network analysis, geographic mapping, behavioral epidemiology, Ghana
©Eyram Kuma Hanu et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Eyram Kuma Hanu et al., Social network and geographic mapping approaches for understanding
substance abuse patterns in Biakoye District, Ghana. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):121. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-00121
Substance abuse is an emerging public health concern in Ghana, particularly in rural communities where prevention and rehabilitation services are limited. This study applied social network and geographic mapping approaches to assess substance-use patterns, peer influences, and associated health impacts among substance users in Biakoye District, Ghana.
A cross-sectional mixed-method study was conducted among 52 substance users identified through snowball sampling across selected communities. Data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires, social network mapping tools, geographic location tracking, and basic health assessments. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, substance-use patterns, social interactions, geographic clustering, and health-related outcomes.
The mean age was 39.8 ± 12.3 years, and most participants were male. Alcohol was the most commonly used substance (86.5%), followed by cannabis (36.5%) and tobacco (19.2%). Daily substance use was reported by 76.9%, while 67.3% had used substances for more than two years. Friends were the main source of substances (69.2%), and 88.5% reported having friends who also used substances. Group substance use was reported by 73.1%, while 71.2% reported peer encouragement. Geographic mapping identified clustering of substance-use activities around drinking spots, houses, ghettos, parks, and funeral grounds. Commonly reported symptoms included fatigue (75.0%), headaches (67.3%), dizziness (46.2%), and heart palpitations (46.2%). Nearly half reported that treatment services were unavailable in their communities.
Social networks and geographically concentrated social environments may contribute to substance-use behaviours in Biakoye District. Social network analysis and geographic mapping can help identify high-risk groups and substance-use hotspots in rural communities. Community-based interventions targeting peer networks and identified hotspots may strengthen substance-use prevention and control.
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