Main Article Content

Prevalence, pattern and determinants of substance abuse among youths in a rural community of Osun State, Southwest Nigeria


Idowu Ajibola
Aremu Ayodele Olatayo
Akanbi Ibukun Mary
Eseigbe Gloria
Adewale Victoria
Awubite Loliya
Adebayo Olumide
Arisa Daniella
Adetona Blessing
Olaniyan Ayomikun
Olafisoye Ebunoluwa
Olorunshola Oluwaseyi
Eyitayo Jesulayomi
Ogunlana Omotolani
Aboloye Oluwaseye
Mayor Anatasia
Olatunde Emmanuel

Abstract

Study objectives: This study assessed the prevalence, patterns and factors associated with substance abuse among youths of
Ejigbo community, Osun State, Nigeria.
Method: This was a descriptive cross–sectional study which employed cluster sampling method to select 420 consenting youths
(aged 15-24years). Data were collected using interviewer–administered, semi structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential
statistics were carried out at p < 0.05.
Results: The mean age (±SD) of the respondents was 19 ± 4.18 years. Majority (89%) of the respondents possessed good knowledge of substance abuse while 4% of them had a positive attitude towards it. Above a quarter (29.8%) of respondents had ever consumed alcoholic beverages while 12.3% of them had engaged in substance abuse. Besides alcohol, Shisha and tramadol were the most commonly abused substances in the study setting. Respondents’ age (AOR=3.11;95%CI=1.67-5.24), gender (AOR=1.87;95%CI=1.53-9.25), attitude to substance use (AOR=5.90;95%3.45-10.23) and marital status (AOR=3.27;95%- CI=2.71-7.24) were the main determinants of substance abuse in the study setting.
Conclusion: Respondents in the current study had good knowledge, predominantly negative attitude but a relatively high burden
of substance abuse. There is urgent need for policy makers to upscale fights against the menace of substance abuse among rural Nigerian youths.


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eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905