Factors Associated with Tobacco Use among Community Dwelling Older Adults in Jos South, Nigeria

Background: Tobacco use poses an enormous threat to public health worldwide. Its use is associated with an epidemic of cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease and other non-communicable diseases especially with increases in age leading to increase morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to determine prevalence and associated factors with tobacco use among elderly members of a community in Jos South LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: Data was collected from 17th to 31st August, 2018. The study employed a cross sectional design. Out of 422 elderly members (≥60 years) of the community identified, only 400 were interviewed with a composite questionnaire that includes the following: socio-demography, Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) as well as the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Results: Results show the lifetime prevalence of tobacco use to be 17.5% and current prevalence to be 15.8%. Tobacco use disorders were not significantly associated with gender (X2 = 0.10, p<0.75), or living status (p = 0.22). Participants who used tobacco were more likely to report cardiovascular (X2 = 0.03, p = 0.96), respiratory (X2 = 0.21, p = 0.65), digestive (X2 = 3.86, p = 0.05), difficulty ambulating (X2 = 0.34, 0.56), probable psychiatric co-morbidity (X2 = 0.12, p = 0.72) and chronic pain conditions (X2 = 0.74, p = 0.39), and had more hospital visits (X2 = 1.18, p = 0.40), and admissions (X2 = 0.03, p = 0.96) but the relationships did not attain statistical significance. Conclusion: We conclude that tobacco use is highly prevalent among older adults living in the community. There is need to step up efforts on programs of intervention especially smoking cessation programs and as a result reduce the burden of tobacco related diseases and disorders.