Use Of Nonprescription Substances Among University Students In Malaysia

ABSTRACT

The trend of using nonprescription substances for weight-loss management is common. There are several factors associated with the use of nonprescription substances. This study aimed to determine prevalence and factors associated with the use of nonprescription substances for weight-loss management among university students. A cross sectional study was conducted from August until October 2013 among 358 postgraduate students aged 22 – 45 years in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). A validated self-administered questionnaire was distributed by multistage sampling to the students. The prevalence of using nonprescription substances among university students was 27.9% (n=100). There were significant association between use of nonprescription substances with age (t=2.41, p=0.017), peer influence (t=7.06, p<0.001), media influence (t=4.38, p<0.001), marital status (t=2.41, p=0.017), BMI (χ²=23.72, p<0.001), body weight dissatisfaction (χ²=14.77, p<0.001) and experienced of conventional strategies (χ²=94.81, p<0.001). After controlling the confounders, BMI (Adj OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.42-4.36), peer influence (Adj OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15) and experienced of conventional strategies (Adj OR 9.25, 95% CI 4.95-17.28) were positively associated with the use of nonprescription substances. In conclusion, the prevalence of nonprescription substances use among university students is common among overweight and obese, had peer influence and experienced of conventional strategies. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide university students with education and access to scientific and unbiased information of nonprescription substances.