Abstract

TINDIMWEBWA, Linda K.; AJAYI, Anthony I.  and  ADENIYI, Oladele V.. Prevalence and determinants of tobacco use amongst South African adults with mental illness in the Eastern Cape. S. Afr. j. psyc. [online]. 2021, vol.27, n.1, pp.1-9. ISSN 2078-6786.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1637.

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

Keywords : Eastern Cape province; mental health users; mental illness; South Africa; tobacco use.

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