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Assessment of Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behaviour among Haramaya University Students, Ethiopia

Received: 4 February 2014    Accepted:     Published: 10 March 2014
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Abstract

Background: Substance abuse and problems arising from it are increasing all over the world, and currently together with HIV/AIDS epidemic, become one of the most threatening and challenging social and public health problems. University students are more vulnerable to wider sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIVAIDS problems due to new environment with poor protection, age and the need to explore life, peer pressure and absence of proactive programs. Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence of substance use and its association with risky sexual behavior among Haramaya University students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 764 randomly selected Haramaya University undergraduate students from December 2010 to January 2011 using self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study population and cross-tabulation was done to see the association between dependent and independent variables. Logistic regressions with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine independent predictors of risky sexual behavior. Result: Among 725 participants, 390 (53.8%) reported having used at least one substance in their lifetime. The most commonly used substance was alcohol (41.7%) followed by khat (30.3%), cigarette (11.3%) and illicit drugs (3.9%). Out of the total respondents, 243 (33.5%) of students had sexual experience. Among sexually active, 28(11.5%) had multiple sexual partners in the last three months and 29(16.3%) of males have sex with commercial sex workers. One hundred forty nine (61.6%) of sexually active students used condoms last time when they had sex. This figure decreases to 55.7% when we come to consistent condom users. Use of Khat, Alcohol and Cigarette was significantly and independently associated with risky sexual activities with AOR (95% CI) of 2.58 (1.58, 4.22), 2.46 (1.52, 3.98) and 2.22 (1.19, 4.14) respectively. Conclusion and Recommendations: The prevalence of substance use among Haramaya university students was high .Use of Khat, Alcohol and Cigarette was significantly associated with risky sexual activities. Awareness creation activity on importance of safer sex and consequences of substance together with taking the necessary disciplinary measure for those who break the rule and regulation set by the university is highly advisable.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19
Page(s) 102-110
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Substance Use, Risky Sexual Behaviors, University Students

References
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  • APA Style

    Andualem Derese, Assefa Seme, Chalachew Misganaw. (2014). Assessment of Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behaviour among Haramaya University Students, Ethiopia. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(2), 102-110. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19

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    ACS Style

    Andualem Derese; Assefa Seme; Chalachew Misganaw. Assessment of Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behaviour among Haramaya University Students, Ethiopia. Sci. J. Public Health 2014, 2(2), 102-110. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19

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    AMA Style

    Andualem Derese, Assefa Seme, Chalachew Misganaw. Assessment of Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behaviour among Haramaya University Students, Ethiopia. Sci J Public Health. 2014;2(2):102-110. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19,
      author = {Andualem Derese and Assefa Seme and Chalachew Misganaw},
      title = {Assessment of Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behaviour among Haramaya University Students, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {2},
      number = {2},
      pages = {102-110},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140202.19},
      abstract = {Background: Substance abuse and problems arising from it are increasing all over the world, and currently together with HIV/AIDS epidemic, become one of the most threatening and challenging social and public health problems. University students are more vulnerable to wider sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIVAIDS problems due to new environment with poor protection, age and the need to explore life, peer pressure and absence of proactive programs. Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence of substance use and its association with risky sexual behavior among Haramaya University students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 764 randomly selected Haramaya University undergraduate students from December 2010 to January 2011 using self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study population and cross-tabulation was done to see the association between dependent and independent variables. Logistic regressions with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine independent predictors of risky sexual behavior. Result: Among 725 participants, 390 (53.8%) reported having used at least one substance in their lifetime. The most commonly used substance was alcohol (41.7%) followed by khat (30.3%), cigarette (11.3%) and illicit drugs (3.9%). Out of the total respondents, 243 (33.5%) of students had sexual experience. Among sexually active, 28(11.5%) had multiple sexual partners in the last three months and 29(16.3%) of males have sex with commercial sex workers. One hundred forty nine (61.6%) of sexually active students used condoms last time when they had sex. This figure decreases to 55.7% when we come to consistent condom users. Use of Khat, Alcohol and Cigarette was significantly and independently associated with risky sexual activities with AOR (95% CI) of 2.58 (1.58, 4.22), 2.46 (1.52, 3.98) and 2.22 (1.19, 4.14) respectively. Conclusion and Recommendations: The prevalence of substance use among Haramaya university students was high .Use of Khat, Alcohol and Cigarette was significantly associated with risky sexual activities. Awareness creation activity on importance of safer sex and consequences of substance together with taking the necessary disciplinary measure for those who break the rule and regulation set by the university is highly advisable.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behaviour among Haramaya University Students, Ethiopia
    AU  - Andualem Derese
    AU  - Assefa Seme
    AU  - Chalachew Misganaw
    Y1  - 2014/03/10
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 102
    EP  - 110
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140202.19
    AB  - Background: Substance abuse and problems arising from it are increasing all over the world, and currently together with HIV/AIDS epidemic, become one of the most threatening and challenging social and public health problems. University students are more vulnerable to wider sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIVAIDS problems due to new environment with poor protection, age and the need to explore life, peer pressure and absence of proactive programs. Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence of substance use and its association with risky sexual behavior among Haramaya University students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 764 randomly selected Haramaya University undergraduate students from December 2010 to January 2011 using self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study population and cross-tabulation was done to see the association between dependent and independent variables. Logistic regressions with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine independent predictors of risky sexual behavior. Result: Among 725 participants, 390 (53.8%) reported having used at least one substance in their lifetime. The most commonly used substance was alcohol (41.7%) followed by khat (30.3%), cigarette (11.3%) and illicit drugs (3.9%). Out of the total respondents, 243 (33.5%) of students had sexual experience. Among sexually active, 28(11.5%) had multiple sexual partners in the last three months and 29(16.3%) of males have sex with commercial sex workers. One hundred forty nine (61.6%) of sexually active students used condoms last time when they had sex. This figure decreases to 55.7% when we come to consistent condom users. Use of Khat, Alcohol and Cigarette was significantly and independently associated with risky sexual activities with AOR (95% CI) of 2.58 (1.58, 4.22), 2.46 (1.52, 3.98) and 2.22 (1.19, 4.14) respectively. Conclusion and Recommendations: The prevalence of substance use among Haramaya university students was high .Use of Khat, Alcohol and Cigarette was significantly associated with risky sexual activities. Awareness creation activity on importance of safer sex and consequences of substance together with taking the necessary disciplinary measure for those who break the rule and regulation set by the university is highly advisable.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • School of public health, HaromayaUniversity, Haromaya, Ethiopia

  • Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Clinical Trial Department, Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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