European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

THE PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF TOBACCO SMOKING, ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND PAN OR NAS ABUSE IN FIRST YEAR STUDENTS OF ZAHEDAN UNIVERSITIES: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY IN SOUTHEAST OF IRAN

Hossein Ansari, Azizollah Arbabisarjou, Shokoufeh Mogharrabi Ostad Kalayeh*, Rohollah Rouhandeh, Somayeh Seddigi

ABSTRACT

Background: Substance abuse such as tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption are as risk-taking behaviors that have some negative consequences on adolescent and young adult’s health. There is a little information about risk taking behaviors in first year students. The aim of this study was to determine the Predictors of Tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and Pan or Nas abuse among students in southeast of Iran. Methods: This study was carried out on 1452 students from two universities in Zahedan city in September and October, 2015. The subjects were selected using proportionally multistage random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure cigarette and hookah smoking, alcohol consumption, Pan and Nas(Naswar) use along with related demographic variables. The data were analyzed using univariate and multiple Logistic regression in Stata.12 software. Results: The prevalence of ever cigarette and hookah smoking were 7.1% and 21.9%, respectively. About 3.6% of students reported alcohol consumption and 3.9% of them use or had experienced Nas (Naswar) or Pan. Multiple logistic regression showed that the male gender (P=0.043), presence any smoker in the family (P=0.033), major (P<0.05) and having smoker friends (P=0.049), were related factors with mentioned risk taking behaviors. Conclusion: The prevalence of tobacco using in first year students of southeastern Iran is not noticeably high in comparison to other substance. The authorities in the universities should try to have consultant programs for students to changing students’ attitude towards these substances for preventing risk taking behaviors in university.

Keywords: Substance abuse, Tobacco smoking, University students