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Singh B, Chand SS, Chen H. Tobacco smoking initiation among students in Samoa and health concerns. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258669. [PMID: 34714847 PMCID: PMC8555831 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High prevalence of tobacco smoking among young students remains a serious health concern given the positive association between smoking and NCDs. More recently, some studies also noted young smokers were more likely to get infected with COVID-19 compared to non-smokers. This study aims to assess the factors that influence smoking uptake among young students in Samoa. Findings from this study will provide valuable insight to policymakers and health authorities on policies and strategies to combat smoking among youth in Samoa and the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Methods The 2017 Global Youth Tobacco Survey data of Samoa, available from the World Health Organization is used in the analysis. We use the multinominal logistic model to investigate the effects of socio-economic and demographics factors on young students’ uptake of smoking in Samoa. Result The main findings of this study indicate that sex, age, friendship, parental smoking, family discussion, outside influence, pocket money, and mother’s education are important determinants of tobacco smoking initiation among youths in Samoa. Conclusion Our findings contribute towards the evidence of the imperative health impact of friends, parents, and public smoking on students in Samoa. This warrants strategies that are effective in discouraging parents from smoking and implement measures that prevent smoking in public places. Moreover, educational efforts, particularly those that encourage more discussion at home settings on the harmful effects of smoking are strongly recommended. Parents are strongly encouraged to regularly monitor children’s spending behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baljeet Singh
- School of Accounting, Finance and Economics, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
- * E-mail:
| | - Shamal Shivneel Chand
- School of Accounting, Finance and Economics, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
| | - Hong Chen
- School of Internet Economics and Business, Fujian University of Technology, Fujian, China
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Jiang JJ, Reupena SM, Naseri T, Swift RM, McGeary JE, McGarvey ST. Alcohol Consumption among Samoan Adults in 2010: Patterns, Correlates and Health Implications. Alcohol Alcohol 2020; 55:681-689. [PMID: 32666120 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS We aim to describe alcohol consumption and related problems from a nationwide survey in 2010 in Samoa in association with sociodemographic variables as part of an intervention development. METHODS The sample consisted of 3463 adults, 25-65 years of age. Participants self-reported alcohol consumption in the previous 12 months, patterns of drinking and alcohol-related psychosocial problems. Data about age, census region of residence, highest attained education level, employment, marital status, household assets score and current smoking status were gathered. RESULTS More than one-third of men, 36.1%, and 4.1% of women consumed alcohol in the past year. There were greater proportions of alcohol users among younger adults, <45 years, in both men and women. Among men, being unemployed and residing outside of rural Savai'i and smoking cigarettes were associated with current alcohol use. Among women, tertiary education and cigarette smoking were strongly associated with alcohol use. Among alcohol consumers, almost 75% of both men and women reported being drunk more than once in the prior month, and 58% of men and 81% of women drank heavily, consuming >4 drinks for women and >5 drinks for men at least once per episode in the prior week. More men than women, 51% versus 26%, felt that alcohol consumption had interfered with their daily life. CONCLUSION Our analyses identified correlates of alcohol consumption and associated problems that can help guide the development of targeted interventions for different sex and age groups to mitigate the social and physiological harms of alcohol misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy J Jiang
- Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetic, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,International Health Institute & Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Take Naseri
- Ministry of Health, Government of Samoa, Apia, Samoa
| | - Robert M Swift
- Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Center for Alcohol and Addictions & Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - John E McGeary
- Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Stephen T McGarvey
- International Health Institute & Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Department of Anthropology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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