Determinants of cigarette smoking among school adolescents in eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

• Main Authors: Reda Ayalu A (Author), Moges Asmamaw (Author), Yazew Berhanu (Author), Biadgilign Sibhatu (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2012-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1477-7517-9-39; 1477-7517
• Keywords: Tobacco; Cigarettes; Use; Behavior; School; Adolescent; Ethiopia; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Harm Reduction Journal, Vol 9, Iss 1, p 39 (2012)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes more than 4 million deaths a year to tobacco, and it is expected that this figure will rise to 10 million deaths a year by 2020. Moreover, it is now a growing public health problem in the developing world.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To assess the prevalence of cigarette use and its determinant factors among high school students in eastern Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted using structured self-administered questionnaires among 1,721 school adolescents in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analysis revealed that prevalence of ever cigarette smoking was 12.2% (95% CI 10.8% - 13.9%). Reasons mentioned for smoking cigarettes were for enjoyment (113, 52.8%), for trial (92, 42.9%), and for other reasons (9, 4.3%). The main predictors of cigarette smoking were sex (OR 4.32; 95% CI 2.59-7.22), age (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.05-1.38) and having friends who smoke (OR 8.14; 95% CI 5.19-12.70). Living with people who smoke cigarettes was not significantly associated with smoking among adolescents (OR 1.25; 95% CI 0.81-1.92).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study concluded that high proportion of school adolescents in Harar town smoked cigarettes. Sex, age and peer influence were identified as important determinants of smoking. There is a need for early cost-effective interventions and education campaigns that target secondary school students.</p>