PATTERN AND PREDICTORS OF SUBSTANCE USE AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS: A COMPARISON OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN GOMBE LGA, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Background: Substance use is a Public Health problem with significant negative consequences on the physical, psychological and mental health of individuals with worse effects among adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the pattern and predictors of substance use among in-school adolescents in Public and Private secondary schools in Gombe LGA, Gombe State. Methods: It was a comparative cross-sectional study. Multistage sampling technique was used to select participants from both comparison groups. Data was collected using a pretested self-administered questionnaire. All data generated were collated and analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: The proportion of students engaged in substance use were 17.9% and 18.9% in private and public secondary schools respectively, this was not statistically significantly different (P-value 0.830). There was a statistically significant difference in the level of health risk associated with substance use among respondent in public and private schools (P value 0.008). Furthermore, respondents in public schools who almost never participated in religious activities and those who occasionally participated in religious activities had 4.2 and 3.5 times more odds respectively of using substances compared to those who almost always participated in religious activities p value 0.007 (CI 1.497-12.008) and p value 0.008 (CI 1.398-9.183) respectively. In both schools, those who had friends that used substances were more likely to use them p value <0.001(OR 0.99; CI 0.039-0.232) for private and p value <0.001 (OR 0.108; CI 0.048-0.245) for public schools. Conclusion: This study has therefore implied that there is no difference in the proportion and pattern of substance use by adolescents in both private and public secondary schools, however, the level of health risk is more among those in private schools.