Assessment of the use of different forms of tobacco products among Nigerian adults: Implications for tobacco control policy

INTRODUCTION: This study assessed the determinants of tobacco use among adults in Nigeria, exploring associations between different types of tobacco products and gender. METHODS: Study data were derived from the 2013 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). The NDHS is a nationally representative household survey of 39 902 women, 17 359 men and 38 522 households. Country weighted data were collected on participants’ demographic characteristics and current tobacco use by type. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were performed to examine individual sociodemographic factors and tobacco use. A multivariate logistic regression was also performed to assess the relationship between tobacco use, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of any tobacco use in 2013 was 2.9% (n=1621, 95% CI: 2.8–3.0). The prevalence of any tobacco use was 8.3% (95%CI: 7.8–8.8, p<0.001) in men and 0.4% (95%CI: 0.3–0.5, p<0.001) in women. Cigarettes and snuff were the most commonly used tobacco products in men and women. Dual (smoking and smokeless tobacco products) use was associated with increased odds among men (AOR=26.1, 95%CI: 11.7–58.5, p<0.001), aged 45-59 years (AOR=5.6, 95%CI: 2.1–15.2, p<0.01) and completely/semi-illiterate (AOR=1.8, 95CI: 1.1–2.9, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Men and women differed in their preference of type of tobacco product and the associated risk factors. Tobacco control policies need to take these specific differences into consideration for the design and implementation of interventions aimed at addressing tobacco use.