Factors associated with tobacco use among commercial motorcyclists in Arua Municipality, Arua District, Uganda

Abstract

Tobacco use is a public health threat that contributes to global burden of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately one person dies every six seconds due to tobacco use, accounting for one in 10 adult deaths and up to half of current users will eventually die of a tobacco-related disease. Tobacco smoking alone among commercial motorcyclists in Arua stands at 57%. The factors associated with this prevalence in this population were not studied and this study therefore sought to explore and fill that gap.

Objectives

To assess the factors associated with tobacco use among commercial motorcyclists in Arua municipality so as to generate useful information for designing tobacco use control strategies among this population.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in Arua Municipality. Interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 767 commercial motorcyclists. Data was entered using Epidata 3.1 and exported to STATA 12 for analysis at univariable, bivariable and multivariable levels. Prevalence Risk Ratios (PRR) were used for statistical associations at 95% Confidence Interval (CI), p-values <0.05 were taken to be statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of tobacco use was 63.8 % (489/767), commercial motorcyclists with family history of smoking were 1.3 times likely to use any form of tobacco compared to those with no family history of smoking (PRR=1.26, 95% CI; 1.15-1.39; p<0.001). Only 5% of the commercial motorcyclists were less likely to use any form of tobacco when the cost of cigarettes was expensive compared to cheap. Commercial motorcyclists who said tobacco was readily available to them were 1.3 times likely to use tobacco compared to those who said tobacco was not readily available. Occupational factor associated with use of any form of tobacco was working for ≥ 16 hours (PRR 1.51, 95% CI 1.06-2.51, P= 0.02)

Conclusion

The prevalence of tobacco use among the motorcyclist was high. Individual factors associated with use of tobacco were; family history of smoking, neutral and positive attitude on tobacco use; environmental factors were; cost of cigarettes, cigarettes readily available and weather conditions while Occupational factor was working for more than 16 hours. Increase of taxes on tobacco products and targeted health education for commercial motorcyclists would contribute to reduction of tobacco use in this population.