Substance use and associated factors among preparatory school students in Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State, Southeast Ethiopia

Abstract

IntroductionThe use of cigarettes, alcohol, khat, and other substances is a worldwide threat which especially affects young people and which is also common among the youth of Ethiopia. However, its prevalence and associated factors have not been addressed well yet. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of substance use among preparatory school students in Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State, Southeast Ethiopia.MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 randomly selected students from five of eight preparatory schools of Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State, Southeast Ethiopia, in March 2013. The sample size was calculated by a single population proportion formula and allocated proportionally for the schools based on the number of students. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to identify the predictors of substance use.ResultThe overall current prevalence of substance use among the respondents was 34.8% (210). Specifically, 23.6% (102) and 4.6% (28) of the respondents chewed khat and smoked cigarette, respectively. Sex, age, and substance use status of the respondents’ father, mother, siblings, and best friend had an association with substance use. Male respondents were about ten times more at risk of practicing substance use compared to female respondents [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 11.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.42–29.23]. Respondents whose sibling(s) smokes cigarette were four times more likely to use substance (AOR 4.44, 95% CI 1.11–17.79). Respondents whose best friend chews khat were 11 times more likely to use substance when compared with those whose best friend does not practice the given factor (AOR 11.15, 95% CI 4.43–28.07).ConclusionRespondents whose family uses one or more substances were more likely use substance(s). Respondents whose best friend uses substance(s) were more prone to practice substance use. Fifteen years of age of the respondents was the critical age when they began to practice substance use. Sex and family of the respondents were the predicting factors for them to practice substance use or not. Hence, health extension workers and district health workers should tackle substance use of the respondents through focusing the identified factors.

Khat chewing practice and associated factors among medical students in university of Gondar, Ethiopia, 2019: a cross-sectional study

“…respectively. This finding was consistent with other studies conducted among preparatory school students in Bale Zone 23.6% [14], high school students in Harare town 24.2% [17] and in Dire Dawa 27.7% [11]. This consistency may be due to cultural and age group similarity between the study populations.…”

“…Muslim students were 6.390 [AOR 95% CI= (1.903-21.460)] times more likely to chew khat than other religious followers. This is also consistent with the finding of other studies in Ethiopia and abroad [13][14][15]19]. This association might be due to the fact that khat hewing practice has traditionally been confined to Muslim populations, and also it might be due to the religious dogma.…”

“…Currently, it has 3 become a significant practice in youth, especially university students, and quickly becoming a significant public health problem [8][9][10]. The prevalence of khat chewing was 27.7% among high school students in Dire Dawa [11], 6.7% among Adigrat University students [12], 28.7% among Axum University students [13], 23.6% among preparatory school students in Bale Zone [14], 33.1% among health officer and medical students of Jimma university [15], 40.0% among Adama university students [16], 24.2% high school students in Harare town [17], 37.8% among Jimma university students (29), 7.8% among Students at Debre Markos Poly Technique College [18], and7% among medical students of Addis Ababa University [19]. The major factors that influence khat chewing includes being male [14,15,[17][18][19][20], being Muslim [15,17], their age [15,17], having friends who chewed khat [13,17,18,20], Cigarette smoking [13], alcohol use [14,19], similar habits by their family members [13,14,17,20], year of study [15], pocket money [20], and others.…”

Prevalence of and factors associated with regular khat chewing among university students in Ethiopia

“…Paternal substance use in general has been shown to be associated with higher odds of substance use among high school students in southeast Ethiopia54 and among adolescents elsewhere 55. Previous studies have also shown paternal alcohol abuse to be significantly associated with alcohol abuse among adolescents and young adults 56–58.…”

Substance use and associated factors and associated factors among preparatory school students in Nekemte town western Ethiopia; school based a cross- sectional study

“…In this study area, the most commonly used substance were alcohol 50 (13.4%), khat 35(9.4%) & tobacco29 (7.8%). This is also lower than nding in Dire Dawa secondary school and Ginnir town preparatory school , Bale zone (11,12). This difference may be due to difference in stud area where there is availability of chat and otter substance.…”