Dispositional Factors in Cigarette Smoking among Patrons of Local Pubs in Bayelsa State

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of death and illness in the world. There is paucity of research on epidemiology and dynamics of cigarette smoking, especially among at-risk populations such as people who patronise local pubs. The present cross-sectional survey sought to provide epidemiological data on smoking among patrons of local pubs and to explore the roles of some important variables in predicting cigarette smoking. Participants in the study were 1,239 purposively selected patrons of local pubs in Yenagoa metropolis (Yenagoa Local Government area) and Amassoma (Southern Ijaw Local Government areas) of Bayelsa state. Participants’ average age was 26.9 years. Mean years of formal education was 13.05. Age at smoking debut was 15.4 years while age at regular smoking was 16.9 years. Findings indicated, further, that 610 (49.2%) of respondents were current smokers, 199 (16.1%) were ex-smokers and 430 (34.7%) never smoked cigarette. All the variables considered in the study accounted for 63% of the variances in cigarette smoking. It was recommended that local pubs be targeted for substance abuse intervention.