scholarly journals Prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction among undergraduate university students in Ethiopia: a community university-based cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosef Zenebe ◽  
Kunuya Kunno ◽  
Meseret Mekonnen ◽  
Ajebush Bewuket ◽  
Mengesha Birkie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Internet addiction is a common problem in university students and negatively affects cognitive functioning, leads to poor academic performance and engagement in hazardous activities, and may lead to anxiety and stress. Behavioral addictions operate on a modified principle of the classic addiction model. The problem is not well investigated in Ethiopia. So the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of internet addiction and associated factors among university students in Ethiopia. Objectives Main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction among University Students in Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Wollo University students from April 10 to May 10, 2019. A total of 603 students were participated in the study using a structured questionnaire. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. A binary logistic regression method was used to explore associated factors for internet addiction and variables with a p value < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were fitted to the multi-variable logistic regression analysis. The strength of association between internet addiction and associated factors was assessed with odds ratio, 95% CI and p value < 0.05 in the final model was considered significant. Results The prevalence of internet addiction (IA) among the current internet users was 85% (n = 466). Spending more time on the internet (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 10.13, 95% CI 1.33–77.00)), having mental distress (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.02–7.06), playing online games (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.38–4.18), current khat chewing (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI 1.14–9.83) and current alcohol use (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.09–4.92) were associated with internet addiction. Conclusions The current study documents a high prevalence of internet addiction among Wollo University students. Factors associated with internet addiction were spending more time, having mental distress, playing online games, current khat chewing, and current alcohol use. As internet addiction becomes an evident public health problem, carrying out public awareness campaigns may be a fruitful strategy to decrease its prevalence and effect. Besides to this, a collaborative work among stakeholders is important to develop other trendy, adaptive, and sustainable countermeasures.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosef Zenebe ◽  
Kunuya Kunno ◽  
Meseret Mekonnen ◽  
Ajebush Bewuket ◽  
Mengesha Birkie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Globally, more than three billion persons using the Internet daily, with the common being youths and young persons. Internet addiction among university students in Ethiopia has not been studied. The current study aims to explore the magnitude and related factors of internet addiction among Wollo University students in Ethiopia.Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and related factors of internet addiction among Wollo University students, Northeast, Ethiopia, 2019.Methods: A community university-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Wollo University students from April 10 to May 10, 2019, G.C. A total of six hundred three students were participated in the study using a pretested and self-administered structured questionnaire. The Young’s Internet Addiction Test instrument was used to assess the level of internet addiction. Results: Generally, the prevalence of internet addiction (IA) among the current internet users was 85 % (n=466) with 55.7 %( n=305) mild internet addiction, 27.9% (n=153) moderate internet addiction and 1.5% (n= 8) severe internet addiction. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, using the internet greater than five hours daily, having mental distress, playing online games, current khat chewing and current alcohol use were positively related to internet addiction. Using the internet for more than twelve months and using the internet by mobile internet were negatively related to internet addiction.Conclusions: The current study documents a high prevalence of internet addiction among Wollo University students. Factors independently associated with internet addiction were using the internet greater than five hours daily, having mental distress, playing online games, current khat chewing and current alcohol use.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosef Zenebe ◽  
Kunuya Kunno ◽  
Meseret Mekonnen ◽  
Ajebush Bewuket ◽  
Mengesha Birkie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Globally, more than three billion people use the internet daily with young people being the most common users. Internet addiction among university students in Ethiopia has not been studied. Objectives The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and related factors of internet addiction among Wollo university students in Ethiopia. Methods A community university-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Wollo University students from April 10 to May 10, 2019. A total of six hundred three students were participated in the study using a pilot tested and self-administered structured questionnaire. A multistage cluster sampling was adopted for this study. In the first stage, by the use of lottery method, two colleges (College of medicine and health sciences, and College of natural sciences, and one school (school of law)) were selected. In the second stage, 18 departments were selected from the colleges and school. The Young’s Internet Addiction Test instrument was used to assess the level of internet addiction. Results Generally, the prevalence of internet addiction (IA) among the current internet users was 85% (n=466) with 55.7%(n=305) mild internet addiction, 27.9% (n=153) moderate internet addiction and 1.5% (n= 8) severe internet addiction. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, spending more time on the internet (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 10.13, 95%CI: 1.33-77.00)), having mental distress (AOR = 2.69, 95%CI: 1.02-7.06), playing online games (AOR = 2.40, 95%CI: 1.38-4.18), current khat chewing (AOR = 3.34, 95%CI: 1.14-9.83) and current alcohol use (AOR = 2.32, 95%CI: 1.09-4.92) were positively related to internet addiction. Using the internet for more than twelve months (AOR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.18-0.96) and using the internet by mobile internet (AOR = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.20-0.83) were negatively related to internet addiction. Conclusions The current study documents a high prevalence of internet addiction among Wollo University students. Factors independently associated with internet addiction were using the internet greater than five hours daily, having mental distress, playing online games, current khat chewing and current alcohol use. So, we advise that higher institutions should establish prevention programs focus on educating students about emotional regulation skills and the harmful effects of substance use to minimize internet addiction.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nebiyu Mengistu ◽  
Desalegn Tarekegn ◽  
Wondwosen Molla ◽  
Seid Shumye

Abstract Background: Internet addiction is characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupation, urges or behavior regarding computer use and internet access that lead to impairment or distress. Globally, it has been found that the occurrence rate of internet addiction among university students ranges from 0.8% to 47.7%. Despite, there are multiple challenges that related with internet addiction which remains under-recognized and largely ignored by stakeholders and also not well known especially in low income countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted aimed to assess the magnitude of the internet addiction and its associated factors among undergraduate students. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was employed from May 1st to June 1st 2019. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to get a total of 846 undergraduate Students. Data was collected by using self-administered structured questionnaires of Young’s Internet Addiction Test. The collected data was coded and entered into EPIDATA 3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 22, Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with internet addiction and statistically significant was considered at P-value <0.05. Results: A total of 846 study participants, giving a response rate were 761 (90%) and the prevalence of internet addiction was 19.4%. Multiple logistic regression model revealed that being male [AOR=1.69, 95% CI: (1.80, 6.41)], probable depression [AOR =3.61, 95% CI (2.40, 5.43)] and khat or caffeinated drinks [AOR=1.86, 95%CI: (1.21, 2.87)] were significantly associated with internet addiction.Conclusion: This study revealed that a high prevalence of internet addiction among Dilla university students and there were various factors associated with increased prevalence of problematic internet use. Therefore, students need to be educated about safe, valuable, and healthy practice of internet use and better to counsel on substance use and its consequences and also psychiatric evaluation (referring for mental health services) to overcome the anticipated increase in internet addiction


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
(MD

Abstract Background: Undiagnosed depression among university students has an adverse effect on the wellbeing and academic performance of students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and associated factors among Debre Birhan university students. Methodology: Institutional based cross-sectional study design is conducted in Debre Birhan University from April to June 2013 E.C. Three hundred sixty nine students participated in this study which was selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were collected by using a self-administered PHQ-9 standard depression questionnaire. First the data was entered into in Epidata 3.1 and then was exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Associated factors were identified using binary logistic regression and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were declared as statistically significant factors with the outcome variables. Result: All of the study subjects were between ages 18 and 33 with a mean age of 22.65 9 ± 2.78. The overall prevalence of depression is 17.1%. Among this according to PHQ-9 scores cut scores, 161(43.6 %) scored as normal (0–4), 145(39.3%) scored as mild (5–9), 53(14.4%) scored as moderate (10–14), 4(1.1%) scored as moderately severe (15–19) and 6(1.6%) students scored as sever (> 20). In multivariate analysis being female AOR = 9.28[3.47–24.81], academic year AOR = 0.236[0.059–0.936], smoking 26.3[9.33–74.1] and alcohol use AOR of 2.62[0.95–7.21] are significantly associated with depression. Conclusion and recommendation: This study found a considerable proportion of undergraduate students with depression. Higher institutions need to pay special attention to students especially those who are female, junior students, smokers and alcohol users.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-43
Author(s):  
Abouelkheir , Mohamed ◽  
Thirunavukkarasu , Ashokkumar ◽  
Albalawi , Faisal A. M. ◽  
Alruwaili , Sultan H. H. ◽  
Almugharriq , Malek M. N. ◽  
...  

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