Prevalence and associated risk factors of Kola nut chewing among secondary school students in Osogbo, Nigeria

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and pattern of Kola nut use among secondary school students in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. The study also aimed to determine the association of socio-demographic variables (of the students and their parents) with kola nut chewing. A questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic variables, the stimulant use section of the WHO Students Drug Use Questionnaire was administered on three hundred and eighty-five (385) randomly selected students of the two Local Government Areas of Osogbo. The prevalence rate of kola nut use was calculated and some socio demographic variables were determined. The 30-day prevalence rate of kola nut use was 11.2%. The one-year prevalence of kola nut use was 29.1 percent and the lifetime rate was 74.8 percent. Majority of users started at age 14 years or below. Kola nut use was associated with lower age group, poor school attendance, polygamous background, low education of mother, high education of father and the description of mother as being too permissive. The findings suggest the need to increase the awareness of the dangers of kolanut use among adolescents. Control program are urgently needed to prevent student wastage.

Psychostimulant Drugs Abuse among Libyan Medical Students

“…The students are generally active groups and such activities may needed to be enhanced therefore, the students excuse this abuse to improve their academic performance so they can study for longer time than usual without requiring a break (3). According to latest statistics in Libya published in 2018 there were about (141,413) students studied at medical Libyan universities (4). Although, the psychostimulant drug abuse has been a banned among the academic students for a considerable period due to their use has been the subject of several studies (5,6).…”

Prevalence and consumption pattern of kolanut among pregnant women in Ibadan metropolis

“…Kolanut, a plant and very common social snack, consumed by every gender and age group throughout tropical and equatorial Africa including Nigeria, is equivalent to tea, coffee, maté and cocoa 19 – 21 . Kolanut has 4 main different species and the most common one to the Southwest of Nigeria is the Gbanja which comes in two colors, white and red 19 , 22 . Kolanut is dark brown in color when bitten, acidic taste when fresh and bitter when dry, with an increase in nutmeg and aromatic aroma 23 .…”