May 31, 2022 - A study conducted in Nakuru, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nairobi counties has revealed that tobacco use remains prevalent among Kenyan youth, despite efforts to curb its devastating health and environmental impacts.
The study, which involved 1,600 respondents, found that 3 out of 10 youths use tobacco, with a majority of them being university students. This is a concerning trend, especially considering that 11.6% of users are adults.
Principal Secretary for Health Susan Mochache pointed out that the majority of respondents were introduced to tobacco use by their friends and peers due to peer pressure. In fact, 6 out of 10 respondents were influenced by their friends, while 17.5% were initiated by their peers.
Furthermore, the study revealed that children as young as 7 years old get introduced to tobacco usage, which exacerbates the chances of tobacco usage among the young generation. The mean age of starting tobacco use is 21, with some children getting introduced to the practice as early as seven years of age.
The study has shown that ease of accessibility to tobacco products and high peer pressure are among the leading reasons why tobacco use has been rampant, drawing back the strides made to eliminate tobacco use.
According to the Ministry of Health's STEPwise Survey for Non-communicable Diseases risk factors, tobacco use is the main preventable cause of death in Kenya, resulting in 9,000 deaths annually and leaving thousands of others severely sick and disabled.
