Prevalence of Substance Use and Associated Factors Among High School Adolescents in Rithepani, Lekhnath-2, kaski, Nepal

Background : Substance use is a major public health concern in global settings, and is very common during adolescence period leading to physical and/or mental health complications. This study assessed the prevalence of substance use and associated factors among high school adolescents in Rithepani 2, Lekhnath, Kaski, 2073. Objectives: The study was designed to provide estimates of substance use by school-going adolescents in Lekhnath and to identify risk factors associated with. Methods : A school based cross-sectional study was conducted from 17th October to 21st October, 2016 among eighth to 12th grade high school students in the Rithepani-2, Lekhnath. Participants were select­ed by purposive sampling techniques, and data were collected using questionnaire. Frequency, percentage, means, SD and chi-square test was performed to identify factors associated with substance use. Results: Majority of the respondents 93 (56.4%) belonged to the age group 15 - 18 years. Majority of the respondents 88 (53.3%) were males and 50 (30.3%) were studying in grade 11. Majority of the respondents 140 (84.8%) were Hindus and 104 (63%) of the respondents belonged to upper caste group. In terms of education of the respondents’ parents, majority of the respondents’ mothers 68 (41.2%) had completed their secondary education and similarly, majority of the respondents’ fathers 78 (47.3%) had completed their secondary education. Majority of the respondents’ mothers 129 (78.2%) were housewives and majority of the respondents' fathers 48 (29.1%) were businessmen. Majority of the respondents 136 (82.5%) belonged to nuclear family and 93 (56.4%) had per month family income more than Rs 15,000. Among 165 respon­dents prevalence of substance use was found to be 10 (6%). Regarding the associated factors majority of the respondents 162 (98.2%) had good relation with their parents, 101 (61.2%) respon­dents’ family members do not use substance, 128 (77.6%) respondents reported that substance use was not accepted in their culture. the prev­alence of substance use by the respondents is 6.1% in which five (50%) respondents consume alcohol, eight (80%) take cigarette, one (10%) use tobacco and two (20%) take ganja. Among the substance users, four (40%) reported imitating parents and four (40%) reported curiosity as the cause for them to initiate substance use. Regarding the accessibility of the substances among the respondents who use substances, three (30%) respondents said that it’s very difficult whereas one (10%) said that it’s very easy for them to have access to the substances. Majority of the respondents who use substances 6 (60%) avail the substance/s from their friends. Regarding the Association, there is a significant association between prevalence of substance and substance use by family members with the χ2 value of 7.61 and p-value 0.006 which is less than 0.05 significant level. There is also a significant association between the prevalence of substance use and its cultural acceptance with the χ2 value of 4.65 and p-value of 0.031 which is less than 0.05 significant level. There is a significant association between the prevalence of substance abuse and ethnicity with the χ2 value of 11.81and with the p-value 0.037 which is less than 0.05 significant level. Conclusions: The prevalence of substance use among high school ado­lescent students in selected higher secondary school was found to be 6.1%. There was significant association between prevalence of sub­stances use and cultural acceptance of participants, ethnicity and use of substances by the family members. Based on the findings of the study researcher suggests to initiate awareness and co-ordination program between the school and parents. Journal of Gandaki Medical College Vol. 10, No. 1, 2017, Page: 43-48