Prevalence Du Tabagisme Et Profil Des Eleves Fumeurs Aux Lycees De Mahajanga I En 2014 (Madagascar)

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking is the most important cardiovascular risk factor among teenagers. Smoking often settles in adolescence and persists in adulthood. We aimed to determine the prevalence of smoking among high school students in Mahajanga I in 2014 and to describe their profile and attitudes toward smoking. Methods: This is an analytical epidemiological cross-sectional study conducted in six high schools in Mahajanga I during November and December in 2014. Results: Smoking prevalence was 6.6% and 36.82% of the students had smoked at least once in their lives. Furthermore, 64.22% started smoking by "tasting", 12.78% because of "influence" and 9.58% used tobacco as a fashion. Most (74.71%) of former smokers stopped smoking for fear of diseases; 40.86% due to the ban and 17.90% to lack of money. The half of active smokers was moderately to strongly addicted to nicotine. Tobacco price was rather reasonable, and even cheap for respectively 35% and 25% of students. Some factors were significantly related to tobacco consumption: male gender (p = 0.000), student’s entourage as close friend (p = 0.000), cousin (p = 0.000), brother (p = 0.000), uncle (p = 0.000), religious leader (p = 0.001), father (p = 0.002) and teacher (p = 0.005), being of age (p = 0.004) and ancestral religion (p = 0.036). Conclusion: Our findings were quite encouraging with a lower smoking prevalence than in other studies elsewhere. The determining factors of smoking found in this study confirm the crucial role of both education and people around the student.