INTRODUCTION 

Every year, on May 31, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners celebrate World No Tobacco Day, a reminder of the global burden of tobacco use in terms of non-communicable diseases. It is now recognized as a major public health problem worldwide. Several countries conduct research to understand this scourge. 

Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Surveyed Individuals 

The survey focused on 124 students, of whom 60.63% were boys and 39.37% were girls. Their ages ranged from 12 to 26 years, with an average of 17.7 years. The vast majority, 70.87%, lived with their biological parents, while 29.13% lived with guardians. Another interesting point is that 61.42% had repeated at least one school year, while only 38.58% had never repeated. 

Knowledge about Smoking 

Almost all the surveyed students had heard of smoking. The main sources of information were radio and television, much more than parents. Furthermore, almost half of the students defined smoking as cigarette consumption. Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases were the most frequently mentioned health risks associated with smoking, and more than half believed that smoking could lead to drug use. Even though more than three-quarters of those surveyed knew there were laws prohibiting smoking in public places such as schools, markets, public services, etc., very few knew the content of these laws, such as fines for violations. 

Students’ Smoking Status and Practice 

One-third of those surveyed, 16%, were current smokers. Among them, there were 19 boys and one girl. The environment, including parents, friends, and teachers, influenced students’ decision to smoke. More than half of the smoking students claimed to have seen an adult smoke. Some commonly cited reasons for their smoking included curiosity, the desire to “become an adult,” and imitation. 

Curiously, although schools are considered by some to be anti-smoking places, they seem to be the primary location for initiation and tobacco consumption. 

CONCLUSION

This study explored smoking among students at HEMA Fadouah Gniambia Municipal High School in Banfora, Burkina Faso, with the main objective of understanding what drives students to become smokers. These findings call for further reflection on smoking in Africa. Many studies could contribute to a better understanding of this problem and protect future generations. 

Field survey conducted in February 2018. 

Case of HEMA Fadouah Gniambia Municipal High School, Banfora, Burkina Faso