Gender-Specific Analyses of the Prevalence and Factors Associated with Substance Use and Misuse among Bosniak Adolescents

Natasa Zenic, Admir Terzic, Jelena Rodek, Miodrag Spasic and Damir Sekulic
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Natasa Zenic: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Teslina 6, Split-21000, Croatia
Admir Terzic: High School "Hasan Kikic", Sarajevks 1, Gradacac-76250, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jelena Rodek: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Teslina 6, Split-21000, Croatia
Miodrag Spasic: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Teslina 6, Split-21000, Croatia
Damir Sekulic: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Teslina 6, Split-21000, Croatia

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Ethnicity and religion are known to be important factors associated with substance use and misuse (SUM). Ethnic Bosniaks, Muslims by religion, are the third largest ethnic group in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, but no study has examined SUM patterns among them. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of SUM and to examine scholastic-, familial- and sport-factors associated with SUM in adolescent Bosniaks from Bosnia-and-Herzegovina. The sample comprised 970 17-to-18-year-old adolescents (48% boys). Testing was performed using an previously validated questionnaire investigating socio-demographic-factors, scholastic-variables, and sport-factors, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, simultaneous smoking and drinking (multiple SUM), and the consumption of other drugs. The 30% of boys and 32% of girls smoke (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 0.86–1.49), 41% of boys and 27% of girls are defined as harmful alcohol drinkers (OR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.48–2.54), multiple SUM is prevalent in 17% of boys and 15% of girls (OR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.79–1.56), while the consumption of other drugs, including sedatives, is higher in girls (6% and 15% for boys and girls, respectively; OR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.89–4.70). Scholastic achievement is negatively associated with SUM. SUM is more prevalent in those girls who report higher income, and boys who report a worse familial financial situation. The study revealed more negative than positive associations between sport participation and SUM, especially among girls. Results can help public health authorities to develop more effective prevention campaign against SUM in adolescence.

Keywords: substance misuse; puberty; academic achievement; parental monitoring; sport participation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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