The prevalence of and factors associated with tobacco smoking behavior among long-distance drivers in Lagos, Nigeria.

Obianuju B Ozoh1, Maxwell O Akanbi2, Casmir E Amadi1, William M Vollmer3, Nigel G Bruce4
1. University of Lagos College of Medicine; Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Department of Medicine
2. Jos University Teaching Hospital, Internal Medicine; Northwestern University, Center for Global Health
3. Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
4. University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, Department of Public health and Policy
Emails:
Obianuju B Ozoh: (ujuozoh@yahoo.com)
Maxwell O Akanbi: (maxwell_akanbi@yahoo.com)
Casmir E Amadi: (acetalx@yahoo.com)
William M Vollmer: (william.vollmer@kpchr.org)
Nigel G Bruce: (ngb@liverpool.ac.uk)

Abstract:
Background: Factors associated with tobacco smoking are useful in designing tobacco control programs.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with tobacco smoking among long-distance drivers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study. Stratifed cluster sampling approach was used to select drivers based on if they received annual health screening (AHS) or not (non-AHS). We used a structured questionnaire to obtain information and weighted the resulting observations to derive population based estimates. Association between tobacco smoking and socio-demographic factors was explored in multivariate models.

Results: A total of 414 male drivers, with a mean age of 43.6 (standard error 0.6) years were studied. Population weighted prevalence of current smoking was 18.9% (95% CI: 14.3-23.4) all drivers, 6.5% (95% CI: 2.6-10.4) of AHS drivers and 19.5 (95% CI: 14.7-24.2) of non-AHS drivers (p<0.001). In multivariate models, having close friends that smoked (OR= 6.36, 95% CI= 2.49 – 16.20) cargo driving (OR= 2.58, 95% CI= 1.29 – 5.15) and lower education levels (OR for post-secondary education vs. Primary education or less= 0.17, 95% CI= 0.04 – 0.81) were associated with current smoking.

Conclusion: Prevalence of tobacco smoking is higher among non-AHS compared to AHS drivers. Having close friends that
smoked, cargo driving, and lower education levels were associated with current smoking.

Keywords: Tobacco smoking behavior, long-distance drivers, Lagos, Nigeria.