Policy implication of high prevalence of tobacco use and alcohol consumption among school-going adolescents in 2021: A cross-sectional study in a mining town of Kalulushi Zambia

Introduction: Tobacco use and alcohol consumption among school-aged adolescents are a significant public health concern. This study aimed to identify the prevalence characteristics associated with tobacco use and alcohol consumption among school-going adolescents to enable the design of effective prevention strategies in schools. Methods: A cross-sectional study design in which a simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the 333 adolescents of school-going age (10-19 years). Tobacco use was measured using a modified World Health Organization student drug survey tool. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine associations between tobacco use and alcohol consumption among adolescents. P <0.05 was set for statistical significance. Results: Of the 333 adolescents, 52% used tobacco, whereas 75.1% were current alcohol drinkers. Adolescents who first used tobacco between the ages of 15 and 19 had an increase in the odds of use compared to the age group between 10 and 14 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12-2.09). Adolescents who were introduced to tobacco by their neighbors had increased odds of use compared to those who introduced themselves (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.28-2.94). Adolescents living with single parents were more likely to drink compared to those living with both parents (AOR = 10.35; 95% CI = 4.81-22.27). Conclusion: Tobacco and alcohol use was very high among adolescents in Kalulushi district. Key factors associated with tobacco and alcohol use among the adolescents were being 15-19 years of age, being raised by a single parent, and peer pressure. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen, review, and amend the school tobacco and alcohol regulatory measures and policies in Zambia to reduce the high alcohol uptake.