Smoking uptake and prevalence in Ghana

Abstract

Background:Developing countries are at high risk of epidemic increases in tobacco smoking, but the extent of this problem is not clearly defined because few collect detailed smoking data. We have surveyed tobacco smoking in the Ashanti region of Ghana, a rapidly developing African country with a long-established tobacco industry.Methods:We took a random sample of 30 regional census enumeration areas, each comprising about 100 households, and a systematic sample of 20 households from each. These were visited, a complete listing of residents obtained and questionnaire interviews on current and past smoking, age at smoking uptake, sources of cigarettes and other variables carried out in all consenting residents aged 14 or over.Results:Of 7096 eligible individuals resident in the sampled households, 6258 (88%; median age 31 (range 14–105) years; 64% female) participated. The prevalence of self-reported current smoking (weighted for gender differences in response) was 3.8% (males 8.9%, females 0.3%) and of ever smoking 9.7% (males 22.0%, females 1.2%). Smoking was more common in older people, those of Traditionalist belief, those of low educational level, the unemployed and the less affluent. Smokers were more likely to drink alcohol and to have friends who smoke. About 10% of cigarettes were smuggled brands. About a third of smokers were highly or very highly dependent.Conclusions:Despite rapid economic growth and a sustained tobacco industry presence, smoking prevalence in Ghana is low, particularly among younger people. This suggests that progression of an epidemic increase in smoking has to date been avoided.

Mass media exposure, social stratification, and tobacco consumption among Nigerian adults

“…The low prevalence of tobacco use is consistent with previous (smaller) studies among Nigerian adults, including the World Health Organization's 2010 reports [29][30][31]. Our findings are consistent with reports of a higher prevalence of tobacco use among men compared with women in low and middle income countries and indicative of an early tobacco epidemic [11,12,20,22,[29][30][31][32][33][34]. We provide evidence that the positive relationship between radio exposure and tobacco use and the negative relationship between newspaper/magazine exposure and tobacco use are robust among men, the primary users of tobacco in Nigeria.…”

“…In low and middle income countries, emerging studies on mass media exposure report a positive association with tobacco use. In Ghana, smoking prevalence was higher in households that owned a television or radio, compared with those that owned a telephone or car [12]. In South Africa, exposure to cigarette advertising, mainly through radio advertisements and ''giveaways'' of tobacco paraphernalia, was associated with more favorable tobacco attitudes among adult women [13].…”

“…The segmented targeting of tobacco advertising and access to tobacco products suggests that gender modifies the association between mass media exposure and tobacco use. As an example, in Ghana, tobacco is sold in drinking pubs and clubs, which are more often associated with music, and more frequented by men, rather than the grocery stores and shops that women frequent [12].…”

The burden and characteristics of peripheral arterial disease in patients undergoing amputation in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana

“…5 The low rate of smoking recorded among patients in this study is consistent with the reported low prevalence of smoking in Ghana. 26 Ten (83%) of the patients who smoked had PAD.…”

Interest groups, voluntary agreements and tobacco control in Ghana

“…Statistically speaking, agriculture generally accounts for over 50% of the foreign earnings, 54% of the gross domestic product (GDP), and employs about 55% of the workforce (Oppong-Anane, 2001;Owusu-Dabo et al, 2009). However, the distribution or selling of tobacco is considered one of the least contributors to the GDP and foreign earnings of the country 1 .…”