Prevalence of and factors associated with smoking among students in Sousse, Tunisia.

Within the framework of the fight against tobacco among young people, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in 2013 to estimate the prevalence of smoking and to identify associated factors among students in Sousse. A questionnaire was administered to a representative sample of 556 students in 5 academic institutions in Sousse randomly drawn. The age of the participants was between 17 and 35 years. The prevalence of tobacco consumption in the past 12 months was 22.1% and consumption during the past 3 months was 65.3%. The average age of starting smoking was 17 years. Smoking prevalence was significantly higher for males (P < 0.001) and those aged over 25 years (P = 0.002). Students from 2 of the institutions were using more tobacco than their colleagues in the other institutions (P = 0.027). The high prevalence of smoking found among the students means that prevention measures are essential; this requires increasing self-esteem and evaluating intervention programmes implemented before smoking the first cigarette.

[Prevalence of and factors associated with smoking among students in Sousse, Tunisia]

Dans le cadre de la lutte contre le tabac auprès des jeunes, une étude descriptive transversale a été menée en 2013 afin d'estimer la prévalence du tabagisme et d'identifier les facteurs qui lui sont associés parmi les étudiants de la ville de Sousse. Un questionnaire a été administré auprès d'un échantillon représentatif de556 étudiants inscrits dans cinq établissements universitaires à Sousse tirés au hasard. L'âge des répondants variait entre 17 et 35 ans. La prévalence de la consommation de tabac durant les 12 derniers mois était de 22,1 % et la consommation durant les trois derniers mois était de 65,3 %. L'âge moyen de début de consommation tabagique était de 17 ans. La prévalence tabagique augmente significativement avec le sexe masculin (p<0,001) et l'âge supérieur à 25 ans (p =0,002). Les étudiants de deux institutions universitaires consommaient plus detabac que leurs collègues des autres facultés (p=0,027). La forte prévalence du tabagisme chez les étudiants fait de la prévention une mesure indispensable qui passe essentiellement par le renforcement de l'estime de soi et l'évaluation des programmes d'intervention mis en oeuvre avant la consommation de la première cigarette.

Within the framework of the fight against tobacco among young people, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in 2013 to estimate the prevalence of smoking and to identify associated factors among students in Sousse. A questionnaire was administered to a representative sample of 556 students in 5 academic institutions in Sousse randomly drawn. The age of the participants was between 17 and 35 years. The prevalence of tobacco consumption in the past 12 months was 22.1% and consumption during the past 3 months was 65.3%.The average age of starting smoking was 17 years. Smoking prevalence was significantly higher for males (P < 0.001) and those aged over 25 years (P = 0.002). Students from 2 of the institutions were using more tobacco than their colleagues in the other institutions (P = 0.027). The high prevalence of smoking found among the students means that prevention measures are essential; this requires increasing self-esteem and evaluating intervention programmes implemented before smoking the first cigarette.