title: Prevalence of tobacco use in Eritrea: results from a noncommunicable disease risk factor survey.
abstract: The prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in Eritrea is increasing. Tobacco use is a recognized risk factor for most of these diseases, especially cardiovascular disease. No data have been published on tobacco use in Eritrea. The present study sought to establish the prevalence of tobacco smoking in Eritrea. The World Health Organization STEPwise approach was used for the survey, conducted in 2004 on a random national sample size of 2,460 subjects (response rate = 93.7%). The prevalence of tobacco smoking in the general population was 8.1%; the prevalence was 15% among men, compared with 0.6% among women. Prevalence rates were higher in those older than 45 years of age. The prevalence of tobacco smoking was higher among Muslims (11.4%) than Orthodox Christians (5.8%), and among alcohol drinkers (10.2%) than nondrinkers (6.6%). The majority of tobacco users (89.3%) used commercially available cigarettes. A study on knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tobacco use is needed to determine the behavioral factors leading to tobacco smoking among the vulnerable groups.
authors.affiliation: Orotta School of Medicine, Asmara, Eritrea. mufunda@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mufunda
authors.forename: Amanuel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Debesay
authors.forename: Asgedom
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosazghi
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nyarango
authors.forename: Abdulmumini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.forename: Goitom
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mebrahtu
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosia
authors.forename: Mussie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Equbamichael
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yohannes
authors.forename: Yohannes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ghebrat
authors.forename: Estifanos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paulos
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masjuan
authors.forename: Andemariam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gebremichael
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019017:Eritrea / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014944:World Health Organization