Determinants of cigarette smoking among adolescents in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Cigarette smoking is an important health hazard and major preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking among Tabor secondary and preparatory school students in Hawassa City, Ethiopia, 2018. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 564 students aged 15–22 years using simple random sampling techniques, in the period 5–19 March 2018. Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) was used to assess smoking behaviours. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with cigarette smoking. RESULTS: The student prevalence of cigarette smoking was found to be 11% (95% CI: 8.5–13.9) of which 9.4% were current smokers. The proportion of cigarette smoking among male and female students was 8.2% and 2.8%, respectively. An age ≥18 years (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.29–7.00), students having friends who smoke (AOR= 4.04, 95% CI: 2.04–7.45), khat chewing (AOR=5.57, 95% CI: 2.44–12.76), alcohol consumption (AOR=4.14, 95% CI: 1.84–9.70) and illegal or illicit drug use (AOR=5.84, 95% CI: 1.96–17.36) were found to be significantly associated with cigarette smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Cost-effective programs that involve the participation of families, teachers and other stakeholders to deliver health education and which restrict accessibility, advertising and use of substances like alcohol, cigarettes, and other illicit drugs, are highly recommended.