Background: Efforts have been invested towards cessation of tobacco use among youths aged 18-35 years, however, motivators for continued tobacco smoking and reasons for quitting are limited in Ugandan settings. Therefore, this study aimed to explore motivations for continued tobacco smoking and reasons for quitting in Wakiso district Uganda Methods: This study used explanatory sequential method. Data from a Population-based survey collected between October 2019 and September 2020 was used to select the sample to participate in this qualitative study. A total of twenty-three in-depths interviews were conducted in July-October 2021 among youths (18-35) years who reported continued tobacco use and those who stopped. Data were analyzed using a team-based thematic content approach with the help of ATILAS ti. Results: Motivations for continued tobacco smoking can include addiction, (recurrent habit), the desire to complement the use of other drugs,, peer pressure, using smoking as a replacement for alcohol consumption, (desire to stop/reduce alcohol consumption), low tobacco prices (accessibility), and cultural or familial norms (inherited from parents). However, strategies such as education on the health risks of smoking, the use of warning labels on packaging, and the potential for embarrassment from family members can help to discourage youth from using tobacco. Conclusion: Targeted, and tailored tobacco prevention counselling through family support programs, intensified health education on the risks of smoking, and promotion of tobacco packing health warnings can be employed to reduce or stop tobacco use among urban youth

Background: Vaccination is essential for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. However adequate vaccine coverage is a critical to the effectiveness of the vaccine at a population level. Data on to acceptability of the vaccine in Urban areas are limited. This study examined the prevalence, factors associated with willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine and reasons for hesitancy in the predominantly urban Wakiso district of Uganda. Methods: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted from March 1st, 2021, to September 30th, 2021 in the urban population-based cohort of the Africa Medical and behavioral Sciences Organization (AMBSO). Multivariable modified Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals of willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Results: A total of 1,903 participants were enrolled in the study; 61% of whom were females. About 63% of participants indicated willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Younger age groups (13-19 and 20-29) were less likely to accept the vaccine compared to the persons ages 40-49 years (aPR=0.79; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.84 for the 13-19 years and 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.98 for age group 20-29, compared to those ages 40–49 years. Post-primary education (aPR=1.05; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.09 compared to primary level), being a students and government staff (APR=1.13; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.23 compared to construction and Mechanic workers) were associated with willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine. Some of the reported reasons for hesitancy included; concerns about side effects 154(57.0%), about 64(23.7%) did not think the vaccines were effective, and those who did not like the vaccines 32(11.9%). Conclusion: A substantial proportion of individuals were not willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. More effort is needed to reduce vaccine hesitancy, especially among the young and people with lower formal education.