Determinants of tobacco use among rwandans aged 15 to 59 years, DHS 2015

Abstract

Background: Smoking has not only been associated with adverse effects on health, but has remained as one of the primary causes of preventable illnesses and deaths globally. The fundamental way of discouraging the smoking habit is being aware of the factors influencing smoking. Rwanda has recorded more smoking behaviors among adult males compared to youth and adolescents. However, empirical evidence documenting smoking behaviors among the adults, and most specifically males are limited. The study therefore investigated the determinants of cigarette smoking and the intensity of smoking among adults in Rwanda. Methods: The study obtained data from the recent Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey DHS 2014/15. A logistic regression model was used to make estimated on the socio-economic and demographic characteristics associated with consumption of cigarette and intensity of smoking among adults aged 15 years and above in Rwanda. To ensure significance of the estimations, bivariate and multivariate analysis were used.

Results: Findings show 3.44 %, the prevalence of tobacco use among adults in Rwanda in 20142015 and a higher proportion of then current tobacco users to be male (10.09%) compared to that of female (0.39%). Also the results show that among tobacco users,41.73% smoked on average 3 to 5 cigarettes per day and approximately 10% of them smoked more than ten cigarettes per day . The study findings show that age (OR=20.06; CI at 95%=11.3-35.63; p value=0.0001), being Muslims (OR=2.12; CI at 95%=1.44-3.11; p value=0.0001) and being in service (OR=3.04; CI at 95%=1.44-6.38; p value=0.03) are highly associated with tobacco use among adults in Rwanda. However, findings show that being married (OR=0.59; CI at 95%=0.08-0.46; p value=0.0001, living in Kigali City (OR=0.402; CI at 95%=0.28-0.57; p value=0.0001), having no education (OR=0.19; CI at 95%=0.08-0.46; p value=0.0001) and being in poorest category (OR=0.4; CI at 95%=0.3-0.57; p value=0.0001) are factors that indicated to be less likely to influence tobacco use decision among adults in Rwanda.

Conclusion: Smoking has continuously been associated with high mortality and morbidity cases globally. The study offered recent empirical evidence for public health policies and intervention techniques towards reduction of smoking, and eventually cessation. Findings from the study associated males of all ages, most of those who aged 35 years and above, of the Muslim religion, and being on service with high tobacco use decision. Consequently, the study recommended to put in place public health and community interventions including health promotion on tobacco use negative side effects that focus on working population of all age groups.