Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Winter 1-27-2021
Abstract
Substance use in universities in Nigeria continue to thrive despite the government and non-government effort to create awareness on the risks involved in the use of substance. This could be attributed to the inability to identify relevant information, inability to use to information appropriately to control the use of substances and the inability to determine the risks and health implication of substance use on academic performance. Empirical work exists to support health risks of substance use among undergraduates but it is not apparent that a study in Ogun State, Nigeria has addressed the influence of information behaviour and substance use. This study examined the influence of information behaviour on substance use among undergraduates in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study population comprised 82,809 undergraduates with a sample size of 1,513 using a two-stage sampling technique to determine the respondents. Findings showed that information behaviour significantly influenced substance use (R2= .022, β = .149, t(1,414)= 6.420, p<0.05). Alcohol had the highest lifetime use of 39.6% while cocaine use was the lowest at 2.9%. The frequency of substance use among undergraduates was low with majority (98.2%) showing never use of substance in their lifetime. The findings revealed averagely high information behaviour (Mean = 2.55). Information sources had outstanding contribution in information behaviour (Mean = 2.79). The study concluded that information behaviour influenced substance use of undergraduates in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study recommended provision of affordable rehabilitation facilities in all university campus by Government, Philanthropist, and religious body.
Comments
This paper is the original research carried out by the authors and has not been published else where. This paper presents the evidence of information behaviour of undergraduates as regards substance use.
The study looked at the different information sources consulted in respect to substance use. it also identified the information seeking pattern with the different substance of abuse common among undergraduates in Ogun State, Nigeria.