title: Determinants of alcohol use and khat chewing among Hawassa University students, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Students' alcohol and khat use have been associated with various health related problems. However, its magnitude and associated factors among Ethiopian students are not yet well documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol use, khat chewing and its associated factors among Hawassa University students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2011. Multistage stratified sampling technique was employed to select 590 students. Self administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Data was entered and analysed by SPSS version 20.0. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the association of different variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The current prevalence of student's alcohol and khat use were 29.5% (95% CI: 25.8-33.3) and 16.3% (95% CI: 13.7-20.0) respectively. Being male (AOR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1-3.0) and living alone (AOR 20.1; 95% CI 2.5-166.7) had a higher odds of alcohol use. Similarly, family substance use history (AOR 4.8; 95% CI 2.5-9.3) and peer influence (AOR 4.6; 95% CI 2.3-9.0) had also higher odds of khat use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of student's khat chewing and alcohol use was significant. Hence, higher education in collaboration with other stakeholders should work on convincing students about the ill effects of these substances.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Andargachew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kassa
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Negash
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wakgari
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Pharmacology Unit, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Fiker
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taddesse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D029754:Catha; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol use; cigarette smoking; khat chewing; substance use; university students