Cigarette purchase and accessibility among children in a developing country. A study among in-school youth in Lagos state, Nigeria.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Tobacco use remains a significant public health challenge in many low and middleincome countries, including Nigeria. Cigarette accessibility drives experimentation and use. The objectives of this study were to assess the experiences of youth, regarding cigarette purchase and accessibility within their community. We were particularly interested in assessing their experiences with being sent on errands to purchase cigarettes by older persons within their community.METhODS We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study among 899 in-school youth less than 18 years of age using a multi-stage sampling method. Data was collected using self-administered pretested questionnaire and analysed with SPSS 17.0.RESULTS Study participants had a mean age of 13.9 + 1.9 years with a roughly equal male to female ratio. More than a third (36.6%) had been sent on an errand, to purchase cigarettes by an older person within the past year (86.6% never smokers; 13.4% ever-smokers). Of these, majority admitted that they proceeded on the errand as directed. Persons responsible for sending the minors on errands to purchase cigarettes were primarily older friends and neighbours within the community. Of those who had been sent on such errands, about half (51.4%) feared that they could be punished if they disobeyed. While attempting to purchase cigarettes, 59.2% admitted that no one had ever inquired about their age. Within the past year, about a third (33.6%) had successfully purchased cigarettes for older persons within the community. CONCLUSIONSIn implementing the national tobacco control policy, strategies to engage and educate the adults within the community must be prioritized. 2 Research ArticleTobacco Prevention & Cessation relatively easy to get, were more likely to become regular smokers compared with those who perceived cigarettes as more difficult to obtain 7,8 . Another study analysing youth tobacco access policies, compliance, and enforcement concluded that aggressive and comprehensive approaches to limiting youth access lead to significant reductions in youth smoking 9 . In order to reduce or eliminate tobacco use globally, the World Health Organization facilitated the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first public health treaty endorsed by more than 180 countries worldwide, and also ratified by Nigerian Government 10 . Article 16 of the WHO FCTC treaty focuses on "Sales to and by children" and states that "parties should adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures at the appropriate government level to prohibit the sales of tobacco products to persons under the age set by domestic law, national law or eighteen" 10. In May 2015, Nigeria passed the long awaited National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB). This bill is an improvement on the previously enacted Tobacco Control Act (TCA) of 1990, which made no provisions for restrictions on sales to underage children 11 . The recently passed NTCB clearly prohibits the sale of cigarettes to and by children....

Exposure to tobacco advertisements, promotions, and sponsorships among in-school adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria

“…Although several studies have reported higher tobacco use among male adolescents which may be due to societal perceptions of smoking as a show of masculinity. [ 21 22 23 24 25 ] Another study showed that females may be more predisposed to sensation-seeking behaviors. [ 11 ] In this study, being female was significantly associated with TAPS exposure, a finding reported by similar studies.…”

Tobacco Vendors’ Perceptions and Compliance with Tobacco Control Laws in Nigeria

“…However, they usually sell to children they believe were sent on errands by adults. Sending minors on errands to purchase tobacco products is common in Nigeria [45], and many vendors do not ask for the age of the buyers [46]. Instead, as this study has shown, the vendors usually decide the buyer's age solely on their appearance, and this contravenes the law which stipulates that the vendor should "verify the age of the purchaser by checking any form of official identification" [12].…”