“A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF ADOLESCENT BOYS REGARDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN SELECTED AREAS OF PALLITHOTTAM”

Sheeja S.*, Feby Fulgen, Jyothilakshmi and Mekha K. Gopinath

ABSTRACT

Substance abuse is a complex phenomenon, which has various social, cultural, biological, geographical, historical and economic aspects. The researchers conducted a study to assess the knowledge and attitude of adolescent boys regarding substance abuse in selected community areas of Pallithottam in kollam district of kerala. The objectives of the study were to to assess the knowledge of adolescent boys regarding substance abuse, to assess the attitude of adolescent boys regarding substance abuse and to find out the association between knowledge and selected socio demographic variables. Descriptive research design was used to conduct the study among 100 adolescents; selected by using convenient sampling method. Data was collected by using structured questionnaire for assessing knowledge and five point likert scale to assess the attitude of adolescents regarding substance abuse. The major findings of the study showed that out of 100 samples, 48% had poor knowledge about substance abuse, 47% had average knowledge about substance abuse and 05% had good knowledge about substance abuse with mean 10.29; 53% of the samples had unfavourable attitude and 47% had favourable attitude. All the demographic variables had significant association with the knowledge score.

Keywords: various social, cultural, biological, geographical, historical and economic aspects.