Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Gete Tsegaye ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Behavioral Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, ET

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify commonly used substances among secondary school students, factors contributing to substance use and their behavioral impacts. Halaba secondary school was purposefully selected due to its strategic importance regarding substance use. Proportionate stratified random sampling technique was employed to select 311 female and 500 male students out of the total number of 5,518 grades 9 through 12 students. A survey questionnarie was used to collect data and three focus group discussions were conducted with 24 key informants. According to the finding of this study that followed by inhalants was found to be the most commonly ever used substance . Peer pressure, poor academic performance, family drug use, conflict between parents, poorparental guidance and combination of the factors were reported to have contributed to substance use behavior. In addition, substance users were found to be more anxious, discouraged and unhappy also prone to relationship problems compared to their non substance user counterparts. Moreover, more substance users were involved in sexual practices compared to the non substance users. An integrated approach involving the government , the community and religious leaders schools and parents should be used to control and prevent substance use among school children m Ethiopia.

Keywords

Substance Commonly Used, Impacts.

Full Text

     

Gete Tsegaye ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Behavioral Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, ET

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to find out whether the secondary school students were aware of the risk of substance use and to find out the reason why they first used substance. Halaba secondary school was strategically chosen for this study due to its relevance. Out of the total 5,518 students 811 grades 9 through 12 students were selected by using proportionate stratified random sampling technique to participate in this study. Survey and focus group discussions were used to collect data. One way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that substance use was not found to be significantly different by family size and age group of respondents at 0.05 significance level (p>0.05). Among the substance user respondents 68 (28 %) used substance first to stay awake at night for study, 64(26.4%)due to combination of reasons,42 (17.3%) to get relief from depression,34 (14.0%)to pass time & 29 (11.9%)out of curiosity Also,420 (51.7%) of the total respondents reported that they were aware of risks associated with substance use while almost half of the participants reported otherwise. Furthermore, the majority of respondents 205 (25.3%) and 107 (13.2%)reported school and family respectively as their major sources of information while religious organizations ,media and various sources were mentioned by others. Health problem, addiction, crime, conflict and academic problems were respectively reported as risks of substance use. Better awareness should be created on the risk of substance use among secondary school students. Also, healthy means of pass time and recreation should be in place to prevent substance use among the youth.

Keywords

Substance, Risk And Awareness.

Full Text

     

Gete Tsegaye ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Hawassa University, Hawassa, ET

Abstract

The present study aimed to find out the prevalence of substance use and its relationship with selected socio-demographic factors as well as its educational impacts. Halaba public secondary school was selected purposefully due to its strategic importance. Out of a total of 5,518 students 311 female and 500 male students were selected to take part in the study by using proportionate stratified random sampling technique . A survey questionnaire was used to collect data by the help of 11 secondary school teachers. Three FGDs were conducted with 24 key informants. According to the present study 29.8% of the students were found to be current substance users. Chi-Square Test indicated that gender and substance use were highly significantly associated (p< .001). On the other hand, one way ANOVA indicated that Muslims were more involved in khat chewing compared to other religious groups. Also grades 9&10 students were more involved compared to their seniors. The more the parents' were educated the trend observed was that the lesser is the involvement of their children in substance use. Children of vocational level educated parents were less involved in substance use. Likewise, compared to other professional groups farmers' children were more involved in substance use (p<.001). Furthermore, an indication that pointed out negative impacts of substance use on academics was found. In order to control and prevent substance use in schools, an integrated approach that involves Parent Teacher Association, Student Council, Community and Religious leaders and the Government should be employed.

Keywords

Substance, Use, Socio-Demographic Factors, School Students.

Full Text

 pdf