ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Although
shisha smoking is banned in
Senegal, it has become increasingly popular, especially among
youth. Despite the
health risks associated with
shisha smoking, there are few studies on
shisha smoking in
West Africa and none in
Senegal. Our study assessed the
prevalence and factors associated with
shisha smoking among
students aged 13-15 years in
Senegal.
METHODS:
We used the 2020 Global
Youth Tobacco
Survey (GYTS)
Senegal data from 2524
students aged 13-15 years. We calculated the weighted
prevalence of ever and current (past 30 days)
shisha smoking. Multivariable
logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with ever and current
shisha smoking among
students.
RESULTS:
The
prevalences of ever and current
shisha smoking were 9.8% (95% CI 7.7-12.3) and 2.2% (95% CI 1.5-3.1), respectively. Ever
shisha smoking was significantly associated with being
male (AOR=1.97; 95% CI 1.33-2.92), current
cigarette smoking (AOR=7.54; 95% CI 2.95-19.29), higher class grade (AOR=2.27; 95% CI1.10-4.67), more weekly pocket money (AOR=3.29; 95% CI1.36-7.95), current use of
smokeless tobacco (AOR=11.53; 95% CI 4.98- 26.72), and exposure to secondhand
cigarette smoke in public (AOR=1.55; 95% CI 1.00-2.41). Current
shisha smoking was significantly associated with current
cigarette smoking (AOR=21.75; 95% CI 6.08-77.78), more weekly pocket money (AOR=8.91; 95% CI 1.75-45.40), current use of
smokeless tobacco (AOR=8.26; 95% CI 2.07-33.04), and
fathers'
smoking (AOR=3.34; 95% CI 1.24-8.96).
CONCLUSIONS:
One in 10
students aged 13-15 years have ever smoked
shisha and 2.2% were currently
smoking it, suggesting that
shisha smoking is a
public health concern in
Senegal.
Senegal might consider offering
students more
education on the harms of
shisha, both in
schools and through comprehensive media campaigns that
address all
tobacco products.