The effects of substance abuse on the academic performance of adolescent female learners in Secondary Schools in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

The effects of substance abuse on the academic performance of adolescent female learners in Secondary Schools in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

Decent Munzhelele & Tumelo Sekgobelay

Issue: Vol. 7 No.5 2026 Article 3 pp.1195 – 1211
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026753 Published online 23rd June 2026

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ABSTRACT

Substance abuse has become a growing global concern, silently eroding the futures of many young people. The study aimed to explore the effects of substance abuse on the academic performance of female learners in secondary schools in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. The study adopted a qualitative approach using an exploratory research design to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. The population of this study was adolescent female learners from selected schools in the Vhembe district. For this study, purposive sampling was used to select participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method to identify key themes and patterns. Ethical considerations such as informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation were strictly observed to protect participants’ rights and well-being. The findings revealed that adolescent female learners engaged in substance abuse experience declining academic performance and cognitive impairments, behavioral problems and disciplinary issues, and emotional and psychological challenges. In line with the findings of this study, the study recommends that schools should implement comprehensive substance abuse education programs and that parents should at all times become more involved in monitoring and engaging with their children to prevent and address substance abuse effectively. This study provides empirical insights into substance abuse and the academic, behavioural, and psychological well-being of adolescent female learners. The study opens the avenues for future research to explore long-term effects of substance abuse on educational attainment and to examine the intervention strategies that effectively support vulnerable female adolescents in school.

Keywords: Academic Performance, Adolescent, Substance Abuse, Female, Learners

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Mr Decent Munzhelele is a novice scholar who holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Venda (UNIVEN) in South Africa. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Sciences (Social Work) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa. He has contributed to several published scholarly articles, each interrogating critical issues within Higher Education and social development. His research focus includes Substance Abuse, Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, Child Protection, and Social Justice and Community development.

Dr Tumelo Sekgobela is a lecturer in the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education at the University of Venda in South Africa. He has conducted his Master’s research on the resilience of social workers and their coping mechanisms. He obtained hos Doctor of Social Work degree on Bullying phenomenon in schools from the University of South Africa and has participated in numerous high-profile local and international conferences. Dr Sekgobela has practiced as a Social Worker for over 11 years before joining academia. He has practiced in different fields of social work and occupied managerial positions in South Africa. His areas of interest include the resilience of Social workers, Substance abuse, and bullying.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Munzhelele, Decent and Tumelo Sekgobela. “The effects of substance abuse on the academic performance of adolescent female learners in Secondary Schools in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.5 (2026): 1195 – 1211. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026753