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Prevalence and Predictors of Substance Use Among Senior High School Students: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana

Received: 6 October 2023     Accepted: 23 October 2023     Published: 9 November 2023
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Abstract

Introduction: Substance use among senior high school students in Ghana has been on the increase. While various studies have investigated the topic, studies that examine the issue in high schools in coastal Ghana are scarce. Also, the relationship between the use of the three most common substances—alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana—is essentially an open question. This study examines the prevalence of substance use among senior high school students in a coast population in Ghana. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 senior high school students. Data was collected using a self-administered, structured questionnaire via a multistage sampling process. The data was entered, cleaned, coded, and analyzed using SPSS. Pearson Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the independent and dependent variables, and a multiple logistic regression established the strength of the explanatory variables in predicting the outcomes. Associations were significant at p < 0.05. Results: The lifetime prevalence and current prevalence of alcohol consumption were 64.8% and 26.8%, respectively. The lifetime and current prevalence of cigarette smoking were 12.2%, respectively. Regarding marijuana use, the lifetime prevalence was 9.1%, and the current prevalence was 6.3%. Household head (s) [AOR=3.53, 95% CI=1.24, 10.03] and lifetime cigarette smoking predicted alcohol consumption [AOR=5.72, 95% CI=1.50, 21.76]. Religion [AOR=7.19, 95% CI=1.21, 42.58], lifetime alcohol consumption [AOR=5.73, 95% CI=1.51, 21.83], and lifetime marijuana use predicted cigarette smoking [AOR=23.95, 95% CI=8.00, 71.66]. School residency status [AOR=0.15, 95% CI=0.05, 0.47], religion [AOR=6.99, 95% CI=1.07, 45.84], home residency [AOR=12.61, 95% CI=3.07, 51.88], and lifetime cigarette smoking [AOR=25.07, 95% CI=8.00, 78.60] predicted marijuana use. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of the students engage in underage drinking and smoking. The use of marijuana, an illicit substance, is notable. Policymakers should act proactively to prevent an impending public health and legal crisis among senior high school students.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 11, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11
Page(s) 186-194
Creative Commons

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), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Substance Use, High School, Prevalence, Predictors, Ghana

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Aidam, K., Awo Adawudu, E. (2023). Prevalence and Predictors of Substance Use Among Senior High School Students: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana. Science Journal of Public Health, 11(6), 186-194. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11

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    ACS Style

    Aidam, K.; Awo Adawudu, E. Prevalence and Predictors of Substance Use Among Senior High School Students: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana. Sci. J. Public Health 2023, 11(6), 186-194. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11

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    AMA Style

    Aidam K, Awo Adawudu E. Prevalence and Predictors of Substance Use Among Senior High School Students: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana. Sci J Public Health. 2023;11(6):186-194. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11,
      author = {Kizito Aidam and Emefa Awo Adawudu},
      title = {Prevalence and Predictors of Substance Use Among Senior High School Students: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {11},
      number = {6},
      pages = {186-194},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20231106.11},
      abstract = {Introduction: Substance use among senior high school students in Ghana has been on the increase. While various studies have investigated the topic, studies that examine the issue in high schools in coastal Ghana are scarce. Also, the relationship between the use of the three most common substances—alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana—is essentially an open question. This study examines the prevalence of substance use among senior high school students in a coast population in Ghana. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 senior high school students. Data was collected using a self-administered, structured questionnaire via a multistage sampling process. The data was entered, cleaned, coded, and analyzed using SPSS. Pearson Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the independent and dependent variables, and a multiple logistic regression established the strength of the explanatory variables in predicting the outcomes. Associations were significant at p < 0.05. Results: The lifetime prevalence and current prevalence of alcohol consumption were 64.8% and 26.8%, respectively. The lifetime and current prevalence of cigarette smoking were 12.2%, respectively. Regarding marijuana use, the lifetime prevalence was 9.1%, and the current prevalence was 6.3%. Household head (s) [AOR=3.53, 95% CI=1.24, 10.03] and lifetime cigarette smoking predicted alcohol consumption [AOR=5.72, 95% CI=1.50, 21.76]. Religion [AOR=7.19, 95% CI=1.21, 42.58], lifetime alcohol consumption [AOR=5.73, 95% CI=1.51, 21.83], and lifetime marijuana use predicted cigarette smoking [AOR=23.95, 95% CI=8.00, 71.66]. School residency status [AOR=0.15, 95% CI=0.05, 0.47], religion [AOR=6.99, 95% CI=1.07, 45.84], home residency [AOR=12.61, 95% CI=3.07, 51.88], and lifetime cigarette smoking [AOR=25.07, 95% CI=8.00, 78.60] predicted marijuana use. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of the students engage in underage drinking and smoking. The use of marijuana, an illicit substance, is notable. Policymakers should act proactively to prevent an impending public health and legal crisis among senior high school students.
    },
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Prevalence and Predictors of Substance Use Among Senior High School Students: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana
    AU  - Kizito Aidam
    AU  - Emefa Awo Adawudu
    Y1  - 2023/11/09
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 186
    EP  - 194
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231106.11
    AB  - Introduction: Substance use among senior high school students in Ghana has been on the increase. While various studies have investigated the topic, studies that examine the issue in high schools in coastal Ghana are scarce. Also, the relationship between the use of the three most common substances—alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana—is essentially an open question. This study examines the prevalence of substance use among senior high school students in a coast population in Ghana. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 senior high school students. Data was collected using a self-administered, structured questionnaire via a multistage sampling process. The data was entered, cleaned, coded, and analyzed using SPSS. Pearson Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the independent and dependent variables, and a multiple logistic regression established the strength of the explanatory variables in predicting the outcomes. Associations were significant at p < 0.05. Results: The lifetime prevalence and current prevalence of alcohol consumption were 64.8% and 26.8%, respectively. The lifetime and current prevalence of cigarette smoking were 12.2%, respectively. Regarding marijuana use, the lifetime prevalence was 9.1%, and the current prevalence was 6.3%. Household head (s) [AOR=3.53, 95% CI=1.24, 10.03] and lifetime cigarette smoking predicted alcohol consumption [AOR=5.72, 95% CI=1.50, 21.76]. Religion [AOR=7.19, 95% CI=1.21, 42.58], lifetime alcohol consumption [AOR=5.73, 95% CI=1.51, 21.83], and lifetime marijuana use predicted cigarette smoking [AOR=23.95, 95% CI=8.00, 71.66]. School residency status [AOR=0.15, 95% CI=0.05, 0.47], religion [AOR=6.99, 95% CI=1.07, 45.84], home residency [AOR=12.61, 95% CI=3.07, 51.88], and lifetime cigarette smoking [AOR=25.07, 95% CI=8.00, 78.60] predicted marijuana use. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of the students engage in underage drinking and smoking. The use of marijuana, an illicit substance, is notable. Policymakers should act proactively to prevent an impending public health and legal crisis among senior high school students.
    
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana

  • Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States of America

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