title: Prevalence and determinants of cigarette smoking among college students: a cross-sectional study in Douala, Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tobacco is the most important avoidable risk for non communicable diseases. While tobacco consumption is stable or declining in developed countries, it is increasing in the developing world with a rate of 3.4 % per annum. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with cigarette smoking among college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2012 to April 2013 in secondary schools in Douala, Cameroon. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, smoking behavior and peer smoking among college students. Logistic regression analyses was employed to identify factors associated with cigarette smoking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 2623 students included, 1579 (60.2 %) were female. The mean age of participants was 19.2 ± 2.53 years. The prevalence of current smoking was 11.2 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 10 - 12], with 20 % in males and 5.3 % in females. Cigarette smoking was with significantly associated with friends smoking [Odds ratio (OR) 6.66; 95 % CI 4.69 - 9.45)], male gender (OR 3.61; 95 % CI 2.52 - 5.16), increase in age (OR 1.10; 1.03 - 1.17), parental smoking 1.69 (1.04 - 2.76), and attending general education (OR 1.85; 1.23 - 2.78).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cigarette smoking constitutes a significant health hazard in college students in Douala. Youth population and especially male students should be continuously targeted by preventive measures and sensitization campaigns against tobacco use. Parents should be aware on the influence of their smoking behavior on initiation of smoking in their children and should be encouraged to quit smoking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Douala General Medicine, PO Box 4856, Douala, Cameroon ; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Bertrand Hugo
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Mbatchou Ngahane
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Huguette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atangana Ekobo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuaban
keywords: Africa; College students; Prevalence; Tobacco