Abstract:
Background: The use of substances such as khat, alcohol or cigarette among adolescents are a
global Phenomenon that can lead to decreased academic performance, increased risk of
contracting Human immune virus (HIV) and Sexually transmitted disease (STD.) But studies
targeting adolescent students on substance use are relatively scarce in Ethiopia
Objective:To assess prevalence and associated factors of substance use among secondary and
preparatory school students in Homacho town, Hadiya zone, South Ethiopia.
Method: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to 20/2017
among 408 9th to 12th grade secondary and preparatory students in the Town of Homacho.
Participants were selected using SRS by lottery method after stratification was made. The data
were entered into Epi data version 3.1.Then cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. The
results of descriptive data were presented using text and tables. Bivariate and multivariable
logistic regressions were employed to identify the predictor of substance use.
Result: The overall life time prevalence of substance use was 220 (53.9%) among the
respondents. The current prevalence of substance use was 181(44.4%) (6.9% cigarette smoking,
20.1%, alcohol drinking and 24.5% khat chewing).sexes of the respondents, substance uses
status of the respondent’s father, mother, and friends were significantly associated with
substance use status of the respondents. Respondents whose father, mother, and friend use
substances (AOR [95% CI] 5.06 [2.580-9.950]), (AOR [95% CI] three [1.359-9.009]), (AOR
[95% CI] 2.27 [1.370-3.773]) more likely to use substances respectively. On the other hands,
currently living alone, current town residence and having monthly pocket money were also
significantly associated with substance use of the respondents.
Conclusions:Prevalence of substance use is high in the study population. Family and friends
of them are its predictors. Hence, school principals, town education office and health office need
to tackle substance uses of the respondents by focusing on the identified factors
