Help-seeking behavior for problematic substance uses in Bahir Dar town, North-West Ethiopia

Background Mental, neurological and substance use disorders are common, but 76% to 85% of people with those disorders in low and middle-income countries did not receive treatment.

Objective Our objective was to assess the level of help seeking behavior and associated factors among residents with problematic substance uses (alcohol, khat, tobacco and hashish).

Methods Community based cross sectional study was conducted in Bahir Dar town among total of 548 participants with problematic substance users. We had interviewed for help seeking behavior by pre-tested modified General Help Seeking Questionnaire. Logistic regression was done and p-value < 0.05 was used for declaration of significant level. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) have been used.

Results Among five hundred and forty-eight participants with problematic substance users, only one hundred and sixty-eight (30.7%) sought help for their substance related problems. Participants’ age above 35 years [AOR = .47 95% CI (.25, .90)], positively screened for common mental disorders [AOR = 4.12, 95% CI (2.7, 6.3)], comorbid medical [AOR = 3.0, 95% CI (1.7, 5.3)], and grand-families’ history of substance user [AOR = 2.18, 95% CI (1.4, 3.4)] found significantly associated with help seeking.

Conclusion There was low proportion of help seeking behavior among participants with problematic substance users. Advanced age was a barrier to seek help while medical illnesses, common mental disorders and history of substance use in grand families were found to enforce to seek help.