Prevalence of Tobacco use among Tunisian adolescents: a cross-sectional national survey

Autor: Y Ayedi, C Harizi, A Skhiri, R Fahfakh
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: European Journal of Public Health. 31
ISSN: 1464-360X
1101-1262
Popis: Introduction Tobacco use initiation mostly begins before the age of 18 years old. Being concerned by the increasing prevalence of smoking among adolescents, WHO developed the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. It focuses on youth addiction to tobacco products. This survey was carried out 4 times in Tunisia. GYTS 2017 is the most recent among them. Aim Describe the different tobacco products prevalence and access of smokers to tobacco products and to smoke cessation. Methods It is a school-based survey uses a two stages cluster sample design to produce a representative samples of students aged from 13 to 15 years old. It was conducted in April and May 2017 in 67 secondary school all over the country. The investigation tool was an anonymously answered questionnaire, which contained core questions about six majors tobacco related topics. Results One out of four students had ever tried to smoke a cigarette; 37.4% of boys vs. 10% of girls (p < 0.001). Lifetime cigarettes prevalence was 7.8%; 14.4% of boys vs. 1.6% of girls (p < 0.001). As for water pipe, 12.7% had ever tried to smoke, even for one or two snuffs. Lifetime water pipe use prevalence was 7.2% (13% of boys vs. 2.8% of girls, p < 0.001). Among cigarettes smokers, 62.5% were able to buy their own cigarettes. Therefore, 23.5% of cigarettes smokers and 41.5% of water pipe smokers were not able to buy their products because of their age. Sixty percent of smokers want to quit and 56.4% had already tried to stop during the year prior to the survey. Seventy-two percent had asked help to quit smoking. Eighteen percent had requested advice from a professional. Conclusions Cigarette and water pipe use prevalence among youth is alarming in Tunisia. Selling tobacco products to minors is not prohibited. Implementing such a law is necessary to reduce adolescents' access to cigarettes, and consequently, reduce tobacco use prevalence. Teenagers should benefit from smoke cessation programs, as well as adults. Key messages Tobacco prevalence among youth is alarming in Tunisia. Prohibiting tobacco sale to minors is necessary.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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