Psychoactive Substance Abuse and Intention to Stop Among Students of Mekelle University, Ethiopia
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Date
2011-05
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: Students of higher educational institution are at higher risk of substance abuse.
Currently, substance abuse is one of the most burning public health problems in Ethiopia. Again,
the increasing rate of university students who take drugs, the scarcity of rehabilitation and
treatment program on substance abuse threatens the present and future image of Ethiopia.
Although it has been known that this public health problem is a pressing issue, the real extent
and magnitude of the drug abuse is not yet properly explored. Only little research is done so far.
Objective: This study aims at assessing the magnitude of Mekelle University students’ practice
of psychoactive substance abuse and their intention to stop.
Methodology: Across sectional study design using mixed research method was employed
(Quantitative, qualitative) during April 2011. After stratifying for batch and sex, simple random
sampling (lottery) was used to select 662 students. Snowball sampling technique also was
conducted. Data were gathered by annonymous self administer questionnaire. EPI Info version
3.5.1 and SPSS version 16.0 were used for cleaning and analysis. Binary and multiple logistic
regressions were used to describe and associate the relevant variables. OpenCode 3.6 was used to
manage qualitative data. Finally; thematic analysis was used to analize the data. CAGE-AID was
used to measure substance abuse.
Result: The response rate was 90.8%. Most 68% of the respondents were male. The magnitute of
substance abuse was [95%CI: 20.1 (17.07, 23.48)]. The commonly abused substances were
alcohol [95%CI: 16.6 (13.82, 19.78)] followed by khat 14.8(12.14-17.82) and cigarette and
cannabis each were abused [95%CI: 8.8 (6.743, 11.29)]. It has also been identified that
substances abuse in males [AOR, 95% CI; 2.214 (1.071, 4.575)] were two times higher than
female respondents. In addition, those who started to abuse substance through peer pressure
[AOR, 95% CI 14.931 (6.824, 32.668)] were 15 times more likely to abuse substances as
compared to those who did not. In contrast, the study showed that students from Law and
Governance [AOR, 95% CI .127 (.048, .335)] was less likely to abuse substances. Furthermore,
proportion of intention to stop among abusers was 49.6%.
Conclusion and Recommendation: From this finding, it is possible to conclude that, substance
abuse is an urgent problem among undergraduate university students; however, their intention to
stop is high. Sex, religion, field of study, reason to start and initiation time are statistically
significant factors. Generally, from this study suggests that further work is urgently needed; to
design suitable policies, culturally and psychologically appropriate intervention packages.
Key words: Psychoactive substance abuse, Intention to stop, Mekelle University
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Keywords
Psychoactive substance abuse, Intention to stop, Mekelle University