BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Predictors of cigarette smoking among adolescents have not been well described in developing countries. OBJECTIVES: To assess predictors of current cigarette smoking among school-going adolescents in Ville du Sud, Cote d'Ivoire. DESIGN: Cross sectional study within the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. METHOD: Questionnaires were completed using the GYTS format. Analysis was carried out to derive frequencies, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of current cigarette smoking and associated factors. RESULTS: A total of 2694, 1452 (53.9%) males and 1242 (46.1%) females completed the questionnaires. Overall prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 15.3%. Significantly more males (23.0%) than females (6.2%) were current smokers (p < 0.001). Cigarette smoking was associated with having smoking friends, pro-tobacco advertisement, owning an item with a tobacco brand logo, pocket money and younger age. Parental smoking was associated with smoking among males but not among females. Perception that smoking was harmful to health was associated with less likelihood of being a smoker. CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking is a significant public health problem in Cote D'Ivoire. Public health efforts aimed to prevent adolescents should incorporate knowledge on the associated factors related to smoking.
BACKGROUND:Tobacco use is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Predictors of cigarette smoking among adolescents have not been well described in developing countries. OBJECTIVES: To assess predictors of current cigarette smoking among school-going adolescents in Ville du Sud, Cote d'Ivoire. DESIGN: Cross sectional study within the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. METHOD: Questionnaires were completed using the GYTS format. Analysis was carried out to derive frequencies, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of current cigarette smoking and associated factors. RESULTS: A total of 2694, 1452 (53.9%) males and 1242 (46.1%) females completed the questionnaires. Overall prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 15.3%. Significantly more males (23.0%) than females (6.2%) were current smokers (p < 0.001). Cigarette smoking was associated with having smoking friends, pro-tobacco advertisement, owning an item with a tobacco brand logo, pocket money and younger age. Parental smoking was associated with smoking among males but not among females. Perception that smoking was harmful to health was associated with less likelihood of being a smoker. CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking is a significant public health problem in Cote D'Ivoire. Public health efforts aimed to prevent adolescents should incorporate knowledge on the associated factors related to smoking.