article · Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy
A cross-sectional study investigated the extent and determinants of substance use among 695 students at Debre Berhan University in central Ethiopia using World Health Organization assessment tools. Lifetime utilisation rates stood at 36.3 percent for alcohol, 10.9 percent for khat, 7.4 percent for cigarettes, 4.5 percent for cannabis, and 4.2 percent for shisha. Current consumption was lower, with 17 percent reporting alcohol use, 5.7 percent using khat, and 3.1 percent smoking cigarettes. Key factors significantly linked to substance use included being male, dining outside the university cafeteria, graduating from private preparatory schools, having a higher monthly income, and having family members or peers who use substances. Although overall prevalence is lower than in comparable African universities, initiation frequently occurs before university. Consequently, targeted interventions addressing individual perceptions, knowledge, and intentions are recommended alongside further research.
Substance use presents major social and health risks to young people in higher education. By identifying specific demographic risks and confirming that consumption patterns often take root before university entry, these findings assist campus administrators and public health planners in tailoring early preventative education and support programmes for high-risk student groups.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
BACKGROUND: Being a global burden of youths, substances use is unhealthy behavior that exposes youths to health and social problems. Knowledge of the prevalence and predictors of substance use behavior among university students is important for designing periodic and locally appropriate interventions. This study is conducted to assess the prevalence and predicators of substances among Debre Berhan University students. METHODS: Cross-sectional quantitative study was employed in May 2016. Stratified two-stage sampling technique was applied to choose 695 students. Substance use behaviors were assessed using tools derived from World Health Organization Model Students' Substance Use Core Questionnaire. RESULT: The lifetime utilization of alcohol, khat and cigarette among students was found to be 36.3%, 10.9% and 7.4% respectively. The lifetime utilization of shisha and cannabis was 4.2% and 4.5% respectively. About 17%, 5.7%, and 3.1% of students are currently using alcohol, Khat and Cigarette respectively. Using multivariate binary logistic regression, being male, feeding out of the university café, being from private preparatory school, having higher monthly income, having substance user families and friends were found to be variables significantly associated with students' substance use behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The current prevalence of substances use among Debre Berhan University students is low comparing to other Ethiopian and African universities. Youth are starting substance use at lower grades especially at preparatory schools. Substance use behaviors are affected by complex factors at individual, family, school, social, and environmental factors. Therefore, strategies to alleviate youth substance use problems should focus on changing individual perception, knowledge, and intention towards substances. There is a need for further research with more powerful sample size and weighted estimates using complex analysis. Reasons for lower prevalence of substance use from other Ethiopian universities shall be further explored using qualitative study.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1186/s13011-018-0150-9
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
