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Prevalence and Characteristics of Smoking among Children under Eighteen Years: About the Investigation in Kabinda’s Town, Lomami Province (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Background: Smoking is a major public health issue, responsible of high morbidity and mortality. The proportion of tobacco use among teenagers and the early age of initiation to tobacco is a disturbing and unacceptable reality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and the characteristics associated with smoking among minors from eight to seventeen years. Methods: We conducted a prospective and descriptive cross-sectional study over a two weeks period, from 18 to 31 May 2014 (Kabinda’s town, DR. of Congo). Individuals were interviewed according to the study parameters. The data obtained was analyzed by the software Epi Info 7.1. Results: The smoking prevalence of minors in this study was 20.2% (304 out of 1,506). The profile of the minor smoker was an individual aged 12 to 17 years, mean age of 14.3 ± 1.5 years, male (37.8% vs. 0.8%), illiterate or Secondary school, living in an incentive environment with low tobacco mobilization and growing pro-tobacco advertising. The age of the first smoking experience was between 10 and 17 years with a peak at 15 years and a mean age of 14.1 ± 1 year. The age between 13 to 17 years (p<0.0001), male sex (p<0.0001), and being illiterate or in secondary school (p 0.000) were associated with the risk of smoking tobacco. Conclusion: It is absolutely necessary to take measures to force the pressure of the tobacco epidemic (factors and context for tobacco use) in children to avoid the harmful consequences of tobacco.