Sociodemographic Correlates of Substance Use Disorders among Undergraduates at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Abstract

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a major public health concern among young adults and university students because of their adverse effects on physical and mental health, academic performance, and social functioning. Although substance use among Nigerian undergraduates has been widely studied, evidence on clinically diagnosed substance use disorders and their sociodemographic correlates remains limited. Objective: To determine the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of substance use disorders among undergraduate students at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 413 undergraduate students aged 18 to 29 years selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using an interviewer administered sociodemographic questionnaire and the Substance Use Disorder modules of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview version 7.0.2 based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. Associations between sociodemographic variables and substance use disorders were assessed using Chi square and Fisher's exact tests where appropriate. Independent predictors were identified using binary logistic regression at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of respondents was 23.3 ± 2.6 years, and 69.3% were male. Overall, 104 respondents met the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder, giving a prevalence of 25.2% (95% CI: 21.2% to 29.6%). Cannabis was the most commonly used substance (60.6%), followed by opioids (22.1%), methamphetamine (18.3%), and benzodiazepines (10.6%). Bivariate analysis demonstrated significant associations between substance use disorders and age, sex, level of study, college of study, marital status, family type, religious affiliation, level of spiritual activity, and parental history of substance use (all p < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression showed that increasing age (AOR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.41), male sex (AOR = 4.70, 95% CI: 2.04 to 10.84), polygamous family structure (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.61 to 5.47), and parental history of substance use (AOR = 4.37, 95% CI: 2.34 to 8.20) independently increased the odds of substance use disorder. Christianity and Islam were associated with significantly lower odds of substance use disorder compared with no religious affiliation. Conclusion: One in four undergraduates met the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder. Older age, male sex, polygamous family structure, and parental history of substance use were independent predictors. These findings highlight the need for targeted screening, prevention, and early intervention programmes focusing on high-risk student populations within Nigerian universities.