title: A systematic review on tobacco use among civilian populations affected by armed conflict.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically examine evidence on tobacco use among conflict-affected civilian populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary quantitative and qualitative studies published in English up to April 2014. Bibliographic databases searched were EMBASE, Global Health, MEDLINE, PsycEXTRA, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane; with the main terms of: (Smoke*, tobacco*, cigarette*, nicotine, beedi, bidi, papirosi, dip, chew, snuff, snus, smokeless tobacco) AND (armed-conflict, conflict-affected, conflict, war, refugee, internally displaced, forcibly displaced, asylum, humanitarian). Grey literature was searched using humanitarian databases, websites and search engines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were independently selected by two reviewers, with a study outcome of tobacco use and a population of conflict-affected civilian populations such as internally displaced persons, refugees, residents in conflict-affected areas, residents and returning forcibly displaced populations returning in stabilised and postconflict periods. 2863 studies were initially identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were independently extracted. The Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme for qualitative studies were used to assess study quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  39 studies met inclusion criteria and descriptive analysis was used. Findings were equivocal on the effect of conflict on tobacco use. Evidence was clearer on associations between post-traumatic stress and other mental disorders with nicotine dependence. However, there were too few studies for definitive conclusions. No study examined the effectiveness of tobacco-related interventions. The quantitative studies were moderate (N=13) or weak (N=22) quality, and qualitative studies were moderate (N=3) or strong (N=2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some evidence indicates links between conflict and tobacco use but substantially more research is required.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Public Health and Policy, ECOHOST-The Centre for Health and Social Change, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of War Studies, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Preeti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Public Health and Policy, ECOHOST-The Centre for Health and Social Change, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Bayard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000068337:Armed Conflicts / Q000523:psychology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004777:Environment; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Global health; Low/Middle income country; Priority/special populations