Abstract
Background: Legal substances use is prevalent in Ethiopia. Substance use can have several health problems that are potentially harmful in educational performance, social issues, psychological and physical wellbeing. This study aimed to know prevalence of lifetime and last month substances use and its associated factors among technical and vocational education and training College students in Ataye town. Methods: an institution based cross-sectional study conducted from 1 March to last May 2019. Participants selected by using simple random sampling technique. Chi-square with its p-value used to identify correlates for each legal/illegal substance use. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis performed to identify associated factors. Backward logistic regression method used. Odds ratio with their 95% confidence interval, and p value less than 0.05 used to declare the statistical significance of associated factors. Results: Four hundred eighty three individuals participated in the study, which was a response rate of 94%. The prevalence of lifetime legal substances use was 32.5% (95% CI: 28.2, 36.5). The prevalence of last month's legal substances use was 21.9% (95% CI= 18.2, 25.5). Among lifetime legal substance users, the majority (25.5%) chewed khat. The others, (19.5%) drunk alcohol, and, 15.3% smoked cigarette. Cannabis and cocaine users were 2.5%, and 7.2% respectively. Among last month's legal substance users, (21.9%) chewed khat followed by alcohol drinking (16.6%), and cigarette smoking (15.3%). In the last month, 1.2% and 3.3% of students used cannabis and cocaine respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that, being male, having divorced family, living greater than twenty years in the town, having substance user family member, having intimate friend substance user, and easily availability of substances were independent predictors of lifetime legal substances use. Conclusions: The prevalence of last month and lifetime legal substance use at Ataye technical and vocational education and training (TVET) College students were analogous with most studies done in Ethiopia. Cannabis and cocaine are illegal drugs in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, the reported proportion of these illegal drug uses informs us there may not be under reporting of legal substances use. It is advisable if furthers emphasis is given for TVET students with the predictor variables.
Substances use and its association with socio-demographic, family, and environment-related factors among technical and vocational education and training College students in Ataye, Ethiopia.
