African Tobacco Use Survey Reveals Who Struggles to Quit and Why

Tobacco use imposes a large health and economic burden worldwide. Research estimates that, in 2019, about 8 million deaths were attributable to tobacco smoking. Tobacco also reduces years of healthy living: about 200 million disability-adjusted life years in 2019, reports Sam Filby for The Conversation.

In most countries, tobacco use is disproportionately prevalent among the poor - the very people who can least afford to finance the healthcare and financial costs associated with it.

A study conducted in eight sub-Saharan African countries - Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda - revealed that individuals with higher socioeconomic status and education were more likely to try and successfully quit smoking. Inequalities' inability to stop using tobacco were associated with socio-economic status, urban or rural residence, and not knowing or believing that tobacco consumption leads to serious illness.

To address these disparities, governments in these countries can implement strategies aligned with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Governments have an opportunity to reap health benefits for their citizens, and financial benefits for their country, through the implementation of evidence-based tobacco-control policies.