Pattern of Psychoactive Substance Use and its Determinant Factors among Adolescents in Urban and Rural Communities in Abia State, Nigeria https://doi.org/10.60787/NMJ-64-1-266

Abstract

Background: World Health Organization refers to substance use as the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances (PAS) including alcohol and illicit drugs which could lead to “dependence syndrome.

Methodology: This was a rural-urban comparative household survey using a multi-stage sampling technique. Information was obtained through an interviewer-administered questionnaire and an in-depth interview guide. Data generated were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Statistical significance was set at P< 0.05 and a confidence interval of 95%. In-depth interview data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach.

Results: A total of 1600 adolescents participated in this study. Their mean age was 17 ± 1.6 years, male to female ratio of 1.2:1 and the majority were students (84.4%). The overall prevalence of PAS use was 64.8% with more rural users compared to urban; (p=0.010). Alcohol was the first substance used by adolescents with a higher proportion in the rural compared to urban setting (p=0.035) and also the more regularly used PAS. Most adolescents used a combination of PASs in both urban and rural communities. Factors associated with the use of PAS were parents’ education, peer influence, and lack of emotional support (P<0.05). Other factors identified were curiosity, accessibility of substances, and the feeling of being high.

Conclusion: A high prevalence of PASs use was reported in this study with higher use among adolescents living in rural areas than in urban. A holistic approach to prevention and early identification of PASs use by adolescents is advocated.