| Abstract: | Use of substances such as alcohol, khat leaves (Catha edulis) and
tobacco has become one of the rising major public health and socio-
economic problems worldwide. Recent trends indicate that the use of
substances have dramatically increased particularly in developing
countries. Alcohol, especially in high doses, or when combined with khat
or tobacco, continues to claim the lives of many young people.
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated
factors of psycho-active substance use among undergraduate students in
Debre Markos University.
Institution based quantitative cross sectional study design is conducted
among Debre Markos university students in from 1 -10 may 2013. A
sample of 845 students was selected by using multi stage sampling
technique. The data was collected by using pre tested anonymous self
administered questionnaire and the collected data was cleaned, coded,
entered into EPI-DATA version 6 and transferred & analysed using SPSS
computer soft ware package version 20.
Out of 845 students 800 students participated in the study and make it the
response rate 96.6 %. The overall life time and prevalence of
psychoactive substance use in the last 12 months among Debre Markos
university students was 48.4% and 46.3%, respectively. The prevalence
of khat chewing, alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking in the last 12
months was 28.5%, 33.8% and 10%, respectively. A large proportion of
the study participants were introduced for khat chewing (60%), alcohol
drinking (63%) and cigarette smoking (70%) by their peer friends. The
most common reason for khat, alcohol and cigarette using were to keep alert while reading 46.1%, for relaxation 79% and to relief stress 36.6%,
respectively. Being male was strongly and positively associated with khat
use, drinking alcohol and cigarette smoking [AOR: 3.2, 95%CI: (1.83,
5.32)], [AOR: 2.62, 95%CI: (1.26, 4.32)] and [AOR: 2.6, 95%CI :( 1.17,
5.76)], respectively.
Firstly a significant proportion of students use psychoactive substances.
Secondly, important variables were identified as predictors for the
increased psychoactive substance use. The odds of psychoactive
substance use increased with being male, urban residence and peer
pressure. Therefore, actions targeting on those predictors are necessary
to effectively reduce the use of the psychoactive substance use. |
