Antismoking messages and current cigarette smoking status in Somaliland: results from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2004

Abstract

BackgroundTobacco is a leading cause of death globally. There are limited reports on current cigarette smoking prevalence and its associated-antismoking messages among adolescents in conflict zones of the world. We, therefore, conducted secondary analysis of data to estimate the prevalence of current cigarette smoking, and to determine associations of antismoking messages with smoking status.MethodsWe used data from the Somaliland Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) of 2004 to estimate the prevalence of smoking. We also assessed whether being exposed to anti-smoking media, education and having discussed with family members on the harmful effects of smoking were associated with smoking. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess these associations. Current smoking was defined as having reported smoking cigarettes, even a single puff, in the last 30 days preceding the survey (main outcome).ResultsAltogether 1563 adolescents participated in the survey. However, 1122 had data on the main outcome. Altogether, 15.8% of the respondents reported having smoked cigarettes (10.3% among males, and 11.1% among females). Factors that were associated with reported non-smoking were: discussing harmful effects of smoking cigarettes with their family members (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.52, 0.71); being taught that smoking makes teeth yellow, causes wrinkles and smokers smell badly (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.52, 0.74); being taught that people of the respondent's age do not smoke (OR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.69, 0.95); and having reported that religious organizations discouraged young people smoking (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.60, 0.82). However, exposure to a lot many antismoking messages at social gatherings was associated with smoking. Exposure to antismoking print media was not associated with smoking status.ConclusionA combination of school and home based antismoking interventions may be effective in controlling adolescent smoking in Somaliland.

Associations of advertisement-promotion-sponsorship-related factors with current cigarette smoking among in-school adolescents in Zambia

“…While previous reports have suggested that exposure to tobacco advertisements [14][15][16][17] through the media, having ever been offered a free cigarette and possessing an item with a cigarette brand logo on it were associated with smoking, we found that adolescents in Zambia seemed to behave differently. While this study was not designed to answer why this may have been the case, there are possible explanations.…”

A systematic review on tobacco use among civilian populations affected by armed conflict

“…For adolescents, the prevalence of smoking ranged from 2.2% for IDP adolescents in northern Uganda56 to around 70% for Israeli youth 43. When stratified by gender, male smoking prevalence ranged from 10.3% among Somaliland youths61 to 70.7% among Serbian adults during war;62 and female smoking prevalence ranged from 0.6% among Palestinian refugees in Gaza54 to 70% among female Israeli youths 43…”

“…Thirteen studies found significant association between male gender and higher tobacco use 28 34 37 40 44 45 52 54 55 58 60 62 64. Four studies found no statistical significance between gender and tobacco use,29 56 61 including one looking at the association between gender and nicotine dependence among Bosnian refugees in the USA 65. A study on Israelis youths found significant association between higher cigarette use and female gender 43.…”

“…One study looked at the association of antismoking messages and smoking status among youths in Somaliland 61. It observed that youths were less likely to smoke if they had heard or seen a few (OR=0.75, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.96) to a lot (OR=0.68, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.84) of antismoking messages in the media.…”

Prevalence, Correlates and Perceptions Toward Cigarette Smoking Among Male and Female In-School Adolescents (Aged 11–18 years) in South Africa: Results from the 2008 GYTS Study

“…This association between pro-tobacco advertising or promotion and cigarette use has been confirmed in several studies (e.g., Siziya et al, 2007;Shah, Pednekar, Gupta, & Sinha, 2008;ineZulu, Siziya, Muula & Rudatsikira, 2009). Exposure to counter-marketing and school and family anti-smoking education have been found in some studies to be protective from smoking (Koh et al, 2011;Siziya et al, 2008a;.…”