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Prevalence and determinants of tobacco use amongst South African adults with mental illness in the Eastern Cape


Linda K. Tindimwebwa
Anthony I. Ajayi
Settings Oladele V. Adeniyi

Abstract

Background: Given the physical and mental health consequences of tobacco use amongst individuals with mental illness, it was imperative to assess the  burden of tobacco use in this population.


Aim: This study examined the patterns and factors associated with tobacco use in individuals attending the outpatient unit.


Setting: Cecilia Makiwane Hospital Mental Health Department in Eastern Cape province, South Africa.


Methods: Lifetime (ever use) use and current use of any tobacco products were examined in a cross-sectional study of 390 individuals between March  and June 2020. A logistic regression was fitted to determine the correlates of lifetime and current use of any tobacco products.


Results: The rates of ever use and current use of tobacco products were 59.4% and 44.6%, respectively. Of the participants interviewed, lifetime tobacco  use was more prevalent amongst individuals with schizophrenia (67.9%) and cannabis-induced disorders (97.3%) and lower in those with major  depressive disorders (36.1%) and bipolar and related disorders (43.5%). Men were six times more likely to have ever used or currently use tobacco  products in comparison to women. Also, those who had a salaried job or owned a business were over three times more likely to have ever used or  currently use tobacco products compared with those receiving government social grants.


Conclusions: The prevalence of tobacco use in this study was  significantly higher than the general population in the Eastern Cape. Therefore, smoking prevention and cessation interventions targeted at the general  population should target this often neglected sub-population in the region.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2078-6786
print ISSN: 1608-9685