Joyce Nakitende, Kirabira Anthony, Aryaija-Karemani Adelaine, Tumwesigye Nazarius Mbona
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Aug 26;25(1):2923. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24007-1.
Tobacco use remains a major global public health challenge, in Uganda it is notably higher among the youth, especially those in informal settlements. Despite periodic national surveys, recent data on this high-risk group is scarce. In this study, we aimed to assess tobacco use patterns and associated factors among the youth in informal settlements, focusing on daily tobacco smoking and smokeless tobacco use.
We conducted a cross-sectional study using secondary data from the ‘Motivators of persistent tobacco use and cessation barriers: A mixed methods study among the youth in Bwaise slum, Kampala, Uganda’. The data was collected from March to April 2021. The dataset included responses from 422 youth aged 18–30 years living in Bwaise, an informal settlement in Uganda. Modified Poisson regression models with robust standard errors were applied to identify factors associated with daily tobacco smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco.
Of the 422 respondents, 160 (37.9%) reported daily tobacco smoking, while 69 (16.4%) used smokeless tobacco. The majority were male (58.8%). The most smoked product was ‘,’ with 71.3% daily smokers reporting its use. Factors significantly associated with daily tobacco smoking included being male (adj. PR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.27–2.23), being aged 21–30 years (adj. PR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.28–2.33), having education below secondary level (adj. PR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.56–0.87), being from central Uganda (adj. PR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.46–0.89), and lacking awareness that smoking causes serious illness (adj. PR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.11–2.03), heart attacks (adj. PR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.11–4.83), and lung cancer (adj. PR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.25–2.35). Smokeless tobacco use was significantly associated with being aged 21–30 years (adj. PR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.04–2.96) and not believing that smokeless tobacco causes heart attacks or serious illness (adj. PR = 3.02; 95% CI: 1.87–4.87).
This study provided data on patterns of tobacco use, mainly daily tobacco smoking and smokeless tobacco use among youths in informal settlements. Our findings highlight the need for targeted interventions directed at males aged 21–30 years, individuals with lower levels of education, and youth residing in central Uganda. Additionally, public health strategies should prioritize addressing misinformation and increasing awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use.
烟草使用仍然是一项重大的全球公共卫生挑战，在乌干达，年轻人中的烟草使用率尤其高，特别是那些居住在非正式定居点的年轻人。尽管定期进行全国性调查，但关于这个高风险群体的最新数据仍然匮乏。在本研究中，我们旨在评估非正式定居点年轻人的烟草使用模式及相关因素，重点关注每日吸烟和无烟烟草使用情况。
我们使用了“持续烟草使用的动机及戒烟障碍：乌干达坎帕拉布瓦西贫民窟年轻人的混合方法研究”中的二手数据进行了一项横断面研究。数据收集于2021年3月至4月。数据集包括来自居住在乌干达一个非正式定居点布瓦西的422名18至30岁年轻人的回复。应用具有稳健标准误的修正泊松回归模型来确定与每日吸烟和无烟烟草使用相关的因素。
在422名受访者中，160人（37.9%）报告每日吸烟，而69人（16.4%）使用无烟烟草。大多数是男性（58.8%）。最常吸食的产品是“，”，71.3%的每日吸烟者报告使用该产品。与每日吸烟显著相关的因素包括男性（调整后风险比=1.68；95%置信区间：1.27–2.23）、年龄在21至30岁之间（调整后风险比=1.72；95%置信区间：1.28–2.33）、教育程度低于中学水平（调整后风险比=0.69；95%置信区间：0.56–0.87）、来自乌干达中部（调整后风险比=0.64；95%置信区间：0.46–0.89），以及不知道吸烟会导致严重疾病（调整后风险比=1.50；95%置信区间：1.11–2.03）、心脏病发作（调整后风险比=1.49；95%置信区间：1.11–4.83）和肺癌（调整后风险比=1.71；95%置信区间：1.25–2.35）。无烟烟草使用与年龄在21至30岁之间（调整后风险比=1.75；95%置信区间：1.04–2.96）以及不认为无烟烟草会导致心脏病发作或严重疾病（调整后风险比=3.02；95%置信区间：1.87–4.87）显著相关。
本研究提供了关于非正式定居点年轻人烟草使用模式的数据，主要是每日吸烟和无烟烟草使用情况。我们的研究结果强调了针对年龄在21至30岁之间的男性、教育程度较低的人群以及居住在乌干达中部的年轻人进行有针对性干预的必要性。此外，公共卫生策略应优先解决错误信息问题，并提高对与烟草使用相关的健康风险的认识。
