OBJECTIVES: The study aim was to establish the prevalence and determinants of smokeless tobacco use in Nigerian adults' population. METHODS: Across-sectional survey of 1776 adults in Yola, North-East Nigeria was carried out in June 2007.A modified World Health Organization (WHO) tobacco survey questionnaire was used for interview and data collection. RESULTS: Out of 1776 interviewed respondents, 133 (7.49%) were user of smokeless tobacco. Snuffing of tobacco powder was the most common method of using smokeless tobacco (6.8%). Fifteen (0.9%) chewed tobacco while only 2(0.1%) both chewed and snuffed tobacco. Social acceptance (21.8%) was the major reason for using smokeless tobacco. Males, 5 th and 6 th decades of life, poor education, lower socioeconomic class, Margi, Hausa and Fulani tribes were the determinants of smokeless tobacco use. About 89.5% of the smokeless tobacco users believed that smokeless tobacco was not harmful to their health. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use was low among Nigerian adult population in this study. Ignorance of the potential health dangers of smokeless tobacco was rampant therefore; concerted efforts should be made to discourage the use of all forms of tobacco rather than concentrating on cigarette smoking.
OBJECTIVES: The study aim was to establish the prevalence and determinants of smokeless tobacco use in Nigerian adults' population. METHODS: Across-sectional survey of 1776 adults in Yola, North-East Nigeria was carried out in June 2007.A modified World Health Organization (WHO) tobacco survey questionnaire was used for interview and data collection. RESULTS: Out of 1776 interviewed respondents, 133 (7.49%) were user of smokeless tobacco. Snuffing of tobacco powder was the most common method of using smokeless tobacco (6.8%). Fifteen (0.9%) chewed tobacco while only 2(0.1%) both chewed and snuffed tobacco. Social acceptance (21.8%) was the major reason for using smokeless tobacco. Males, 5 th and 6 th decades of life, poor education, lower socioeconomic class, Margi, Hausa and Fulani tribes were the determinants of smokeless tobacco use. About 89.5% of the smokeless tobacco users believed that smokeless tobacco was not harmful to their health. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use was low among Nigerian adult population in this study. Ignorance of the potential health dangers of smokeless tobacco was rampant therefore; concerted efforts should be made to discourage the use of all forms of tobacco rather than concentrating on cigarette smoking.
Authors: Adesola O Olumide; Allysha C Robinson; Paul A Levy; Lawrence Mashimbye; Heena Brahmbhatt; Qiguo Lian; Oladosu Ojengbede; Freya L Sonenstein; Robert W Blum Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2014-11-19 Impact factor: 5.012