Awareness, Knowledge and Attitude to Substance Abuse among Students in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria
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Abstract
Substance abuse is a significant public health challenge across the globe, with its prevalence particularly alarming in developing nations, including Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge and attitude of substance abuse among students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 365 students in two tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The IBM SPSS software was used for analysis in the study. The overall awareness level was 90.1%, and for male and female students it was 92.6% and 88.9% respectively. 88.8% of the students had good knowledge of substance abuse. The knowledge level was higher among the female students (90.1%) than the male students (86.1%). The positive attitude to substance abuse was 79.2%, it was slightly higher among the male students (79.5%) than the female students (79.0%). The overall prevalence of substance abuse was 10.1%. The prevalence was higher among the male students (21.3%) than the female students (4.5%). Good knowledge of these substances and their negative effects should be able to positively influence the behaviour of the youths. Understanding students' levels of awareness and knowledge about the risks and consequences of substance misuse is essential for developing effective educational programs and interventions.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Gibson Ifechukwude Chiejine, Nneka Chidimma Duluora, Ade Salami Isenalumhe, Jedidiah B Afekhobe, Nnaemeka Emmanuel Akubue, Mark Imhonikhe Ogbiti , Chidera Bob-Ume Nwamaka, Chinenye Pamela Umeugoji , Joseph Oghenewogaga Owheruo, Chisom God'swill Chigbo , Uzoma Chidi Charles Okereke (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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