The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: The study sought to find out prevalence of tobacco smoking, determinants of use, perceive effects of tobacco smoking and gender difference in tobacco smoking among secondary school students in Ibadan to ascertain the level of impact of marketing and advocacy strategies of tobacco companies in Nigeria.

Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and 510 senior secondary school students were randomly selected in Ibadan, Nigeria. A self developed validated questionnaire and focus group discussion guide served as research instruments.

Results: Majority (69.8%) of the respondents were between 15-17 years old, 94.9% had knowledge that cigarette smoking may lead to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, 94.5% that it affects social health, 92.0% implicated cigarette smoking in lung cancer, 68% had knowledge of health consequences of ETS and 96.9% had knowledge that cigarette smokers are likely to die young. On use of tobacco, 84.5% claimed they smoke for pleasure and boldness, 29.8% smoke in school premises and other places away from home, 15.3% smoke at home in secret, 15.7% whenever they feel like. On determinants of smoking behaviour, 17% did it because their friends smoke, 15.3% did it to please their friends, 10.4% were influenced by parents, 11.8% through family members, 14.1% and were by electronic media. On keeping school rules, 35.1% said it make students bold to abuse teachers. Also 14.3% of the male as against 15.5% female respondents were smokers. There is therefore the need for tobacco education and cessation programmes in the secondary schools.