Abstract:
Background: Substance abuse is defined as maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically
significant impairment or distress within 12-month period. Globally, 3.3 million deaths or 139 million
disabilities of alcohol use and 600,000 deaths by second-hand effect of tobacco smoking occurred
each year. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 700,000 people died by tobacco smoking every year. Researches
had shown substance abuse has been increasing in Ethiopia over the past few decades. On the
contrary, there is limited strategies, tools and procedures that would help to assess and diagnosis
substance abuse to give appropriate counseling service before its complicated. This study was used
to assess prevalence of substance abuse and associated factors among people aged 15-65 years in
Chiro town, west Hararge zone, eastern Ethiopia.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Chiro town to select
655 sample population by systematic random sampling techniques. Structured questionnaires were
used to collect data. Data were checked and double entry was applied. Bivariate and multivariate
analysis were done by SPSS version 21. During bivariate analysis, variables with p-value of ≤ 0.1 at
95% CI were included to binary logistic regression and variables with P-value ≤0.05 was considered
significantly associated with substance abuse.
Result: Prevalence of substance abuse was 19.7%, 95%CI (16.8, 22.8%) using DSM-IV criteria.
Respondents history of alcohol use (AOR=2.43, 95%CI (1.46,4.03)), khat chewing (AOR=5.22,
95%CI (1.58, 10.56)) and tobacco smoking (AOR=2.18, 95%CI (1.20, 3.97)), family history of
substance use (AOR=3.46, 95%CI (1.95, 6.15)) and those thought substance use not increase mental
disorders (AOR=0.43, 95%CI (0.26, 0.69)) had significant association with substance abuse
Conclusion: Prevalence of substance abuse was high in Chiro town. Family history of substance use,
respondents who had history of alcohol use, khat chewing and tobacco smoking were positively
associated with substance abuse whereas perception of substance use increase mental disorders
negatively associated with substance abuse.
