Being a global burden of youths, substances use is unhealthy behavior that exposes youths to health and social problems. Knowledge of the prevalence and predictors of substance use behavior among ...university students is important for designing periodic and locally appropriate interventions. This study is conducted to assess the prevalence and predicators of substances among Debre Berhan University students.
Cross-sectional quantitative study was employed in May 2016. Stratified two-stage sampling technique was applied to choose 695 students. Substance use behaviors were assessed using tools derived from World Health Organization Model Students' Substance Use Core Questionnaire.
The lifetime utilization of alcohol, khat and cigarette among students was found to be 36.3%, 10.9% and 7.4% respectively. The lifetime utilization of shisha and cannabis was 4.2% and 4.5% respectively. About 17%, 5.7%, and 3.1% of students are currently using alcohol, Khat and Cigarette respectively. Using multivariate binary logistic regression, being male, feeding out of the university café, being from private preparatory school, having higher monthly income, having substance user families and friends were found to be variables significantly associated with students' substance use behaviors.
The current prevalence of substances use among Debre Berhan University students is low comparing to other Ethiopian and African universities. Youth are starting substance use at lower grades especially at preparatory schools. Substance use behaviors are affected by complex factors at individual, family, school, social, and environmental factors. Therefore, strategies to alleviate youth substance use problems should focus on changing individual perception, knowledge, and intention towards substances. There is a need for further research with more powerful sample size and weighted estimates using complex analysis. Reasons for lower prevalence of substance use from other Ethiopian universities shall be further explored using qualitative study.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background: Cervical cancer is a global public health problem with around five hundred thirty thousand new cases
and two hundred sixty five thousand deaths annually in 2015. Risky behaviors, lack of ...knowledge and preventative
measures in young women, increase the risks of cervical cancer later in life. Up to date, there is scarcity of study on
level of knowledge and perception towards cervical cancer among young women in Ethiopia. So, this study was aimed to
determine the level of knowledge and perception toward cervical cancer among female regular undergraduate Debre
Berhan University students. Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered
questionnaire among female regular DBU students from May to June, 2015. Two stage cluster sampling technique was
used for the study. Data was entered and cleaned in Epi info and imported to SPSS for analysis. Binary logistic regression
was carried out to determine factors of good knowledge on cervical cancer. P-value less than 0.05 was considered for
statistical significance. Results: Eighty-four (14.5%) of the study participants were sexually active. Of the participants,
232(40.5%) had heard of cervical cancer but only 195 (35.6%) had good knowledge towards cervical cancer and of
the study participants, only 185 (33.2%) perceived as they are susceptible for cervical cancer. Using radio and TV as
source of information AOR= 1.918 (95% CI: 1.223, 3.010), having information about sexually transmitted infections
(STI) AOR =3.030 (95% CI: 1.665, 5.514) were significantly and independently associated with good knowledge on
cervical cancer. Conclusions: The level of knowledge towards cervical cancer and perception of acquiring the disease
was poor. Health education interventions are needed to improve the awareness and health seeking behavior in youth
women thereby preventing cervical cancer related morbidity and mortality.
PDF
