Prevalence and associated factors of psychoactive substance misuse among accademic staffs working in jimma university, south west Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Substance abuse is a serious problem that interferes with an individual's physical and mental health, on the individual social situation and responsibilities. Of the young adult segment of the Ethiopian population, university academic staffs are the most at risk of using psychoactive substances. Its use leads to an increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS including sexually transmitted diseases, and psychiatric disorders. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of psychoactive substance abuse among University academic staffs at Jimma, Method: An institution based cross sectional study design was used. Self-administered questioner was employed on 350 academic staffs; and after stratifying for colleges, systematic random sampling was used to select study subjects. The study period was from April 1 to April 30, 2015. Results: The overall lifetime, last 12 month and current prevalence of Psychoactive Substance use among the study subjects were 71.1%, 61.5% and 58.4% respectively. The commonly abused substances were alcohol (48.1%) followed by Khat (33.5%); and cigarettes were use by 14.9 % of the participants. Comparably 2.5% and 2% were non prescribed sedatives and cannabis users respectively. Age, those in the age group 25-35 years were by 3.6 (95%, CI 1.4 -9.0) times more likely to use substance as compared to the 18-25 years age group. On the other hand, being male was by 2 (95%CI, 1.1-3.7) times more risk for substance use than being female. Married staff had 62% lower probability of using substance than singles. Initiation time for current psychoactive substance abuse among participants were forty seven point six per cent (47.6%) of the current substance users started using while they were in Secondary school, 25.5% at College or university, 20.5 % as government employees, 6.0% at elementary school. The main reason to take any of drug mentioned by participants were for personal pleasure/self-interest (70.3%), socialization (50.3%), to get relief from tension (42.7%), due to peer influence(41.6%) and to increase performance (39.5%) followed by to stay awake (33.0%). Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of psychoactive substance abuse among Jimma University (JU) academic staffs is very high. Psychoactive Substance use by JU academic staffs in descending order of frequency comprised alcohol, khat, cigarettes, and marijuana, the only illicit drug reported by JU academic staff. Many instructors started PAS use when they were senior high school, College/ university students. The main reason mentioned to use were for personal pleasure, socialization, to get relief from tension, due to peer influence and to increase performance followed by to stay awake. Factors independent associated with substance use were being male, being in middle age group, being single and having family member who used PAS. To policy makers chain of controlling of abused substances should be extended up to grass root level, from elementary school to university is the main time to expose. To Ethiopia ministry of health treatment and rehabilitation centers should be established at regional level. Substances abuse should be included in the components of school counseling programs. To Jimma University, create discussion panel concerning substances abuse prevention and treatment and rehabilitation centers set.