BACKGROUND: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure can cause morbidity such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, including heart attack. However, there is little information on SHS exposure among adolescents in Zambia. The study assessed the prevalence of SHS and its determinants among school-going adolescents in Lusaka.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lusaka. Totals of 25 schools, 47 classes with 2569 students were selected using two-stage cluster sampling method. Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) Core Questionnaire was used to collect data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to adjust for confounding variables at 5% significance level.
RESULTS: Total of 2027 students participated in the survey, representing 78.9% of the 2569 students; 52.2% were female. Majority of students were aged 13-15. Approximately half of the students were exposed to second-hand smoke in enclosed public places (46.4%) and outdoor public areas (46.4%), while 18.7% experienced exposure at home. Overall, 60.2% of the students were exposed to SHS. Factors positively associated with SHS were: seen or heard anti-tobacco media messages on television (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.21, 1.26]), favours banning smoking inside enclosed public places (AOR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.11, 1.16]), taught in class about dangers of tobacco use (AOR = 1.17, 95% CI [1.15, 1.20]), seen people using tobacco on television (AOR = 1.10, 95% CI [1.08, 1.13]), and currently use any form of smokeless tobacco product (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI [1.24, 1.37]).
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of exposure to SHS among school-going adolescents in Lusaka is high. Despite the existence of statutory instrument that prohibit smoking of tobacco in public places, tobacco smoke still poses a huge risk on public health particularly for adolescents due to weak enforcement.