[Prevalence of tobacco smoking in primary and secondary schools in the Department of Dakar, Senegal]

Tobacco smoke is a global health problem, and the largest avoidable cause of death in the world. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco smoking in schools in Dakar area (Senegal).This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was performed from September 2011 to June 2012 in 27 schools of the Dakar area.We questioned 1654 students over a 9-month school period. The mean age was 15±2.5years (range 11-22). The sample included 848 boys (51.3 %), therefore a sex ratio of 1.05. There were 68 smokers (4.1 %) and 60 ex-smokers (3.6 %). The mean age of the smokers was 16.9±2.2years (range 11-22) with a male preponderance of 70.6 % (n=48). Smoking in family members was the initiating factor most frequently reported by smokers (25 %). The average age of ex-smokers was 16.4±2years. Fear of parents' reactions was the most frequently invoked reason for stopping smoking (41.7 %).This study confirms the reality of smoking among school children in Senegal and highlights the urgency of the installation of a prevention policy near the young people.