Journal des maladies tropicales et de la santé publique

Abstrait

Prevalence and Determinants of Active and Passive Cigarette Smoking among undergraduate students at Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia

Andargachew Kassa and Serawit Deyno

Background: Smoking, one of the most preventable causes of death, kills approximately 6 million people worldwide. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of smoking and its determinants among undergraduate students at Hawassa University.

Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted using structured self-administered questionnaires among 586 undergraduate students at Hawassa University. Using multi-stage sampling technique. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine determinants of tobacco use.

Results: Among 586 students participated in the study 14.8% have ever cigarette used in their life time and 7.5% used tobacco in the previous 30 days. The mean age of initiating smoking cigarette was mean (SD) (15.43 ± 2.92 years). The vast majority (69%) of undergraduate students at Hawassa University reported that they were exposed to environmental cigarette smoke. Among those reported to have cigarette smoke exposure 17% (n=397) are exposed on daily. Khat chewing and alcohol use were positive predictors whereas living with brothers and/or sisters during student’s school age were a negative predictor of smoking cigarette.

Conclusion and recommendation: Active and passive cigarette smoking are prevalent among Hawassa university undergraduate students. Ever chewing khat and ever drinking alcohol were independent predictors of smoking cigarette. We recommend a concerted effort of integrated cigarette smoking and substance use prevention campaigns in the university students.