African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine (Jan 2023)

Electronic cigarettes use in COVID-19 era among students of a tertiary institution in Nigeria

  • Oluwafunmike A. Ogwa,
  • Abdulhakeem O. Abiola,
  • Oluchi J. Kanma-Okafor,
  • Tolulope F. Olufunlayo,
  • Azeezat O. Shopeyin- Dosunmu,
  • Babatunde A. Akodu,
  • Omonigho D. Ogwa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3704
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. e1 – e10

Abstract

Read online

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is becoming popular among undergraduate students in Nigeria with a tendency for escalation because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess electronic cigarette use in COVID-19 era among undergraduate students of a tertiary institution in Lagos state, Southwestern Nigeria. Setting: A tertiary institution in Southwestern Nigeria. Methods: The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study with a pretested, structured, close- and open-ended self-administered questionnaire used for collection of data on knowledge, attitude and use of e-cigarettes. Results: Data from 183 respondents were analysed. The mean age of respondents was 24.8 ± 3.38 years, most (63%) of whom were males. The prevalence of ever-use of e-cigarettes was 15.3% of which 60.7% reported increased use of e-cigarettes since the COVID-19 pandemic. Age, education, tribe and religion (p 0.001) were significantly associated with higher odds of use of e-cigarettes. Conclusion: This study found an increase in the quantity of e-cigarettes used and online purchase of the same by respondents since the COVID-19 pandemic. Paying attention to the rate of use and having control measures in place for online purchase of e-cigarettes by youths in Nigeria may be necessary in the years to come. Contribution: This study addresses a gap in the availability of knowledge of use of e-cigarettes among a growing population of youths in Nigeria.

Keywords