A Comparative Study To Assess Knowledge Regarding Substance Abuse And Its Impact On Health Among Rural And Urban Adolescents In Selected Secondary And Higher Secondary Schools Of West Bengal, With A View To Developing An Information Booklet

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent substance abuse represents a major public health concern, especially in developing areas such as West Bengal, India. Adolescents often lack adequate knowledge about the harmful effects of substance use, which increases their vulnerability. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the level of awareness about substance abuse and its health consequences among adolescents from rural and urban areas, and to create an informational booklet to enhance their understanding.

Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 120 adolescents (60 rural and 60 urban) from selected secondary and higher secondary schools in West Bengal using purposive sampling.

A structured questionnaire was utilized to gather data on participants' knowledge. Descriptive statistics (mean, median, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent t-test and chi-square test) were used to analyse the data. Additionally, an information booklet was developed and validated by experts.

Results: The majority of participants in both rural (66.67%) and urban (75%) groups demonstrated poor knowledge regarding substance abuse. The mean knowledge score was slightly higher among rural adolescents (M = 15.27, SD = 4.91) compared to urban adolescents (M = 13.88, SD = 4.40), but the difference was not statistically significant (t = 1.15, p > .05). A significant association was found between class level and knowledge (χ² = 20.40, p = .009), while no significant associations were found with age group or family history of substance use. An information booklet titled “Understanding Substance Abuse: A Guide for Adolescents” was developed and validated with a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.92.

Discussion: The study highlights insufficient knowledge about substance abuse among adolescents in both rural and urban areas. Although rural students had slightly better scores, the overall knowledge was unsatisfactory. Academic class showed a significant influence on knowledge levels, suggesting that curriculum-integrated awareness programs could be effective in bridging this knowledge gap.

Conclusion: Both rural and urban adolescents possess inadequate knowledge about the health impacts of substance abuse. Targeted educational interventions, such as the validated information booklet developed in this study, are necessary to enhance awareness and promote healthy behaviours among adolescents.