Risk & Protective Factors for Adolescent Substance Use: A Comparative Study of Secondary School Students in Rural & Urban Areas of Osun State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND:

Substance use is a leading adolescent health problem globally, but little is known regarding associated factors for adolescent substance use in Nigeria. This study compared the prevalence of substance use among in-school adolescents in urban and rural areas of Osun State, Nigeria, and identified risk and protective factors.

METHODS:

This cross-sectional study involved 600 randomly selected adolescents (aged 10-19 years) from rural and urban areas of Osun State, Nigeria. Data were collected using the facilitated self-completed questionnaire method. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the association of individual, peer, and parental factors with adolescent substance use. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were obtained.

RESULTS:

About two-thirds of respondents had used substances in both rural (65.7%) and urban areas (66.0%) (p=0.93). Logistic analysis showed private school attendance as a risk factor for substance use and adolescent disapproval of adult substance use as a protective factor  in rural areas. For urban areas, having friends who use substances and a mother having had tertiary education were risk factors while parental disapproval of substance use was a protective factor.

CONCLUSION:

Lifetime prevalence of substances is high among in-school adolescents in Osun State. The risk and protective factors for adolescent substance use somewhat differ for rural and urban areas, and these have implications for designing effective intervention strategies.

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By:  Olabanjo O. Ogunsola¹ / Adesegun O. Fatusi²

¹Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

²Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Corresponding author: Adesegun O. Fatusi, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria,

Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2016 Jan 29. pii: /j/ijamh.ahead-of-print/ijamh-2015-0096/ijamh-2015-0096.xml. doi: 10.1515/ijamh-2015-0096.

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