Use of tobacco in Kenya: sources of information, beliefs and attitudes toward tobacco control measures among primary school students.

The purpose of this study was to present preliminary data on sources of and exposure to pro- and anti-tobacco messages. A questionnaire was administered to 1130 Kenyan primary schoolchildren. Forty-seven percent had received risk information from broadcast media and 88% was exposed to tobacco advertisements. Nonsmokers held more favorable attitudes toward control policies and were less frequently exposed to pro-and anti-tobacco messages. Adolescents receive risk information mainly from the broadcast media. Advertising is an important risk factor of smoking status in this developing country.