Abstract
Background: Substance use is a leading adolescent health problem globally, but little is known regarding associated factors for adolescent substance use in Nigeria. This study compared the prevalence of substance use among in-school adolescents in urban and rural areas of Osun State, Nigeria, and identified risk and protective factors.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 600 randomly selected adolescents (aged 10–19 years) from rural and urban areas of Osun State, Nigeria. Data were collected using the facilitated self-completed questionnaire method. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the association of individual, peer, and parental factors with adolescent substance use. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were obtained.
Results: About two-thirds of respondents had used substances in both rural (65.7%) and urban areas (66.0%) (p=0.93). Logistic analysis showed private school attendance as a risk factor for substance use (OR=2.32, 95% CI=1.20–4.46) and adolescent disapproval of adult substance use as a protective factor (OR=0.47, 95% CI=0.27–0.82) in rural areas. For urban areas, having friends who use substances (OR=4.04, 95% CI=1.39–11.6) and a mother having had tertiary education (OR=3.34, 95% CI=1.06–10.4) were risk factors while parental disapproval of substance use (OR=0.50, 95% CI=0.28–0.90) was a protective factor.
Conclusion: Lifetime prevalence of substances is high among in-school adolescents in Osun State. The risk and protective factors for adolescent substance use somewhat differ for rural and urban areas, and these have implications for designing effective intervention strategies.
Early Childhood Risk and Protective Factors Predicting Resilience against Adolescent Substance Use
