Risk factors associated with smokeless tobacco use and cigarette smoking among teenagers in a sub-urban area of south west Nigeria

Aims To evaluate the prevalence of, and identify risk factors associated with smokeless tobacco (SLT) use and cigarette smoking (CS) among Nigerian teenagers. Methods Using a validated self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, we surveyed 1,272 teenagers selected from the five schools in Ilisan-Remo Nigeria regarding use of CS and SLT products. We used the Pearson chi-squared test and logistic regression to assess correlates of both SLT use and CS. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were used to measure magnitudes of associations. Results Prevalence of ever users of SLT and CS were 5.0 % (CI: 3.8, 6.2) and 6.9 % (CI: 5.5, 8.3) respectively. Higher prevalence of SLT user was recorded among male (7.9 %), 18-19 years (11.1 %), those who had parents cigarette smokers (35.9 %), those whose best friends were cigarette smokers (47.1 %) and those working after school (9.4 %) compared with their counterparts (p<0.05). Similarly, higher prevalence of CSwas recorded among male (9.6 %), 18-19 years (12.7 %), those whose parents smoke (56.4 %), those whose best friends were cigarette smokers (100.0 %) and Muslims (11.1 %) compared with their counterparts. Major factors associated with SLT use were being a cigarette smokers (AOR029.9; CI: 16.5, 54.4), parents smoking (AOR016.1; CI: 9.0, 29.8) and having best friends who smoke (AOR015.1; CI: 7.0, 32.4). Main factors associated with CS included SLT use (AOR029.9; CI: 16.5, 54.4), parent smoking (AOR031.7; CI: 18.2, 55.4 and Muslim (AOR01.8; CI: 1.1, 2.9). Conclusion Prevention programmes aimed at reducing cigarette smoking need to be improved to reduce SLT use. The home and places of after school work must also be factored. © Springer-Verlag 2012.