Журнал алкоголизма и наркотической зависимости
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The association between socio-cultural factors and substance use among Haramaya University Students

Zelalem Tadese Feyisa

Substance use, such asusing alcohol, khat, tobacco or cannabis products, is a part of social life; in addition, it is influenced by several sociocultural factors. However, not all the associated risk factors were equally responsible for influencing individuals either in using alcohol, khat, tobacco or cannabis. Hence, this study attempted to examine sociocultural factors influencing university students in substance use by comparing one with another.A cross-sectional study was carried out. The study usedquantitative approach to collect data from 384 students. Primary data were collected usinga surveymethod. Involvement in substance use was measured whether students used alcohol, khat, cigarette, and/or hashish in the past three months. Descriptivestatistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariable nominal regression model wereused to examine the effects of the factors oninvolvement in each substance use. This study declared all statistical testswere significant at p-value<0.05.Compared with their involvement in using khat, female students were positively influenced in using cigarette and hashish (Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR=1.102,95% CI:1.056,1.149) and using alcohol (AOR=1.066, 95% CI:1.021,1.113). The involvement of students in using alcohol (AOR=0.884,95%CI:0.838,0.932) and using both cigarette and hashish (AOR=0.909, 95%CI:0.866,0.953) were negatively associated with stress related to their academic activities.The involvement of students in using alcohol (AOR=0.942,95%CI:0.906,0.979) was negatively associated with parenteral influences; involvement in using alcohol (AOR=0.445, 95%CI:0.210, 0.941) was negatively associated with the thoughts of considering substances as energizers.The involvement of students in using alcohol (AOR=4.980,95%CI:1.614,15.368) was positively associated with peer influences.It was, thus, suggested that the management of Haramaya University should work on creating awareness of the negative consequences of substance use. Concerned professionals, including sociologists, psychologists, and health workers, should work on raising students’ awareness as it was possible toundertake their studies without substance use. Moreover, the university management is strongly recommended to expand recreational centers withinthe campus. Lastly, Haramaya woreda administration should restrict the availabilityand accessibility of these substances around the campus.