Predictors of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke among non-smoking in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria

• Main Authors: Omotayo F. Fagbule, Mary E. Osuh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: European Publishing 2020-07-01
• Series: Population Medicine
• Subjects: secondhand smoke; tobacco; environmental tobacco smoke; adolescent; nigeria; passive smoking
• Online Access: http://www.journalssystem.com/popmed/Predictors-of-Exposure-to-Secondhand-Tobacco-Smoke-among-Non-Smoking-In-School-Adolescents,125362,0,2.html

Introduction Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) has proven to be a public health problem. The problem is even worse among vulnerable groups like non-smoking children and adolescents. There is limited information on SHS exposure among Nigerian adolescents; thus, this study aims to describe the predictors of exposure to SHS among nonsmoking, in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly-selected non-smoking in-school adolescents (n=825), from 18 secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria. Using the GYTS questionnaires, respondents’ exposure to SHS was determined in relation to location: inside home, outside home, both inside and outside home, and either inside or outside home. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and logistic regression model (α=0.05). Results Participants’ mean age was 14 (SD=1.72) years, and they belonged to high, middle and low social class in the following respective proportions: 49.5%, 30.3% and 20.1%. The prevalence of exposure to SHS were: inside home (6.1%), outside home (31.5%), both inside and outside home (5.1%), and either inside or outside home (32.5%). The majority (56.2%) perceived that most of their peers smoke. Having a smoking friend (AOR=2.62; 95% CI: 1.58–4.37) and smoking family (AOR=2.08; 95% CI: 1.32–3.28), going on tobacco errands (AOR=3.32; 95% CI: 1.79–6.17), believing their peers smoke (AOR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.07–2.05) and belonging to a low social class (AOR=1.66; 95% CI: 1.05–2.62) were identified as predictors of exposure to SHS either inside or outside home. Conclusions One in every three adolescents was exposed to tobacco smoke either inside or outside home, and exposure to SHS outside home was higher than inside home. The high prevalence of secondhand tobacco smoking among in-school adolescents in Ibadan suggests that the smoke-free policy in Nigeria needs to be strengthened. Besides a comprehensive smoke-free environment, other tobacco-control interventions should extend to non-smoking adolescents, especially those having the predictors of SHS exposure found in this study.