Sociodemographic Correlates of Substance Use in a Sample of Egyptian Female University Students

Abstract

Objectives: The aim was to find out the prevalence of psychoactive substance use among female students in Ain Shams University, Cairo, and to investigate associations between substance use and some selected sociodemographic factors. Materials and Methods: A total of 600 female students in their final year of college was recruited from six faculties of Ain Shams University; 3 practical faculties (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy) and 3 theoretical faculties (commerce, arts, law), 100 students from each. They completed the Structured Questionnaire for the Detection of Drug Intake and the Assessment of Sociodemographic Data which is a self-administered questionnaire used for the detection of substance use among university students. Results: The most commonly used substance was illicit drugs (9.8%), followed by tobacco (9%). Tobacco smoking was more prevalent between faculty of arts students and tobacco and cannabis use were more prevalent among theoretical faculties students. Being from Cairo, high family income, high daily pocket money, interneting as the main leisure time activity, and having friends or close relatives with substance use were positively associated with substance use among female university students. Conclusion: Illicit drugs were the most common substance used among female university students in Egypt. Substance use was influenced by sociodemographic factors; faculty, form of study, residence and living arrangement, parental education, income, leisure time activities, and having friends or relatives with substance use.