Prevalence and Factors Associated to Alcohol Use and Khat Chewing Among Ambo University Students, Ambo, West Ethiopia

Background Substance use among college and university students remains an important area of research due to the implications of early substance dependence on the future of the youth. University students may be at high risk for using illicit substances during university Life. Entering the university, often leads to new opportunities, independence from family control, self decision making, and peer-pressures to use or abuse alcohol or other drugs. Results Life time, past 12 months and current prevalence of Alcohol drinking was reported to be 50.7%, 43% & 26.1% respectively among Ambo university students. Lifetime prevalence of khat chewing was 36.1% and 18% of the respondents currently chewing khat. Male students were about two times more likely to current alcohol user as compared to female students (AOR2.26, 95% CI 1.27, 4.03). The presence of family members who drink alcohol, chew chat and smoke cigarette was significantly associated with alcohol using with AOR 7.83,95% CI 4.64-13.20) as well as Students with substance user (i.e, alcohol ,Khat & cigarette ) friends were at higher risk of life time drinkers (AOR 5.22,95% CI 2.63-10.39) when compared to those whose friends are non user of substance. Methods Institution based cross -sectional quantitative study design involving the administration of Amharic version of the pre-tested structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on alcohol use and khat chewing. The source population was stratified based on their year of study. The study population was selected using simple random sampling technique Conclusion The prevalence of alcohol use and khat chewing in the present study particularly the lifetime prevalence was high compared to previous study on the similar study populatio