title: Youth access to cigarettes in six sub-Saharan African countries.
abstract: Tobacco smoking is initiated and established mostly during adolescence. The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 16 outlines the obligation of parties to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to minors. This study examined where and how student smokers obtain cigarettes.
  
  
  
  We examined Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) data from 2009 to 2011 on cigarette access among students aged 13-15 in six sub-Saharan African countries.
  
  
  
  In all countries analyzed, over 20% of student smokers obtained their cigarettes in a store or shop (52.6% in South Africa, 37.7% in Republic of Congo, 28.2% in Swaziland, 27.4% in Cote d'Ivoire, 26.9% in Ghana, and 22.6% in Uganda). In Cote d'Ivoire and South Africa, 68.9% and 68.7% of student cigarette smokers, respectively, were not refused the sale of cigarettes because of age. The percentage of students who were offered free cigarettes by a tobacco company representative ranged from 4.7% in Cote d'Ivoire to 12.1% in South Africa.
  
  
  
  The method of obtaining cigarettes and access to cigarettes among students varies among sub-Saharan African countries. Adopting and enforcing interventions that prevent youth from accessing tobacco products could be an effective strategy for reducing smoking initiation among youth in sub-Saharan African countries.
authors: CDC Foundation, 55 Park Place, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30324, USA. Electronic address: rchandora@cdcfoundation.org.
authors: Rachna
authors: R
authors: Chandora
authors: Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Song
authors: American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Martine
authors: M
authors: Chaussard
authors: Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Krishna Mohan
authors: KM
authors: Palipudi
authors: Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Kyung Ah
authors: KA
authors: Lee
authors: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo.
authors: Nivo
authors: N
authors: Ramanandraibe
authors: Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Samira
authors: S
authors: Asma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Accessibility; Adolescents; Cigarettes; Control; GYTS; Legislation; Smoking; Sub-Saharan Africa; Supply; Tobacco