HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE USE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG GUMUZ PEOPLE IN BENSHANGUL GUMUZE REGIONAL STATE, METEKEL ZONE, MANDURA WOREDA, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA 2018.

Abstract

Abstract Background: In the modern world, 2 billion adults (48% of the adult population) are current users of alcohol, 1.1 billion adults (29% of the adult population) are current smokers of cigarettes and 185 million adults (4.5% of the adult population) are current users of illicit drugs. The issue of hazardous substance use particularly drinking alcohol and cigarette smoking/tobacco use among Gumuz people in Mandura Woreda becoming a growing concern. Objective: To assess prevalence of hazardous substance use and associated factors among Gumuz people in Benshangul Gumuz Regional state, Metekel Zone, Mandura Woreda, North West Ethiopia 2018. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in the Mandura Woreda from March to April 2018. A total of 1588 adults age-18 and above years old were recruited. Cluster sampling technique was used to select the study kebeles. The data were collected at the household level using pre tested ASSIST, Oslo social support scale and substance use questionnaire. Standardized questionnaire was used to collect the data. Epi-info and SPSS version 20 were used for data entry and analysis. Result: A total of 1588 respondents were included in the study making response rate of 100%. Among these participants 45.3% were Male. The prevalence of Hazardous substance use among the participants was 25.9% (95% CI=23.7, 28.0) of which were 63.9% Male and 34.1% Female. The prevalence of hazardous alcohol use and hazardous tobacco use were 25.8% and 7.8% respectively. The prevalence of Alcohol use and tobacco use were 48.4% and 15.8% respectively. The social support of participants found to be 33.2% poor social support and 66.8% strong social support. This study showed that increasing age more likely significantly associated with hazardous substance use with OR=1.08(95% CI= 1.06, 1.11). Aable to read and write, primary education and secondary and above were significantly associated with hazardous substance use with AOR=9.83(95% CI=4.37, 22.1), 3.79(95% CI =2.34, 6.15) and 3.88(95% CI =1.83, 8.22) respectively. In the adjusted odds ratio the governmental and non- governmental employee were significantly associated with hazardous substance use with AOR=4.51(95% CI =1.27, 15.98). Strong social support was found significantly associated with hazardous substance use (adjusted OR=0.39(95% CI=0.27, 0.58). Conclusion: Generally, this study found high prevalence of current hazardous substance use among Gumuz people in Mandura Woreda. Factors that statistically significant predictors of hazardous substance use are age, educational status, social support and occupation. Public health measures in the reduction of hazardous substance use with its consequences will be better taking place effort fully.