[Tobacco use in secondary schools in Gabon: Prevalence and associated psychosocial factors]

This study aims to measure the prevalence of smoking and identify the psychosocial factors associated with it among students in secondary schools in Gabon. This cross-sectional descriptive study collected information by a self-administered questionnaire, completed by 4833 students aged 14 to 22 years. The results show that 10.9% of these young people are current smokers and that the risk of smoking is highest among males and increases with age. Poor school performance and poor family relationships were both associated with smoking. The risk of smoking was highest among students repeating a year at least 3 times, those with substantial school absenteeism, those from smaller families, and finally among those at a relatively well-to-do socioeconomic level. The youth who "go out regularly" were the group at the highest risk in the study. This study, which focuses on the psychosocial factors associated with smoking, may contribute to the prevention of smoking among young Gabonese. For the first time, it is possible to identify the groups at highest risk of smoking and thus to contribute to developing antismoking strategies appropriate to the cultural and socioeconomic conditions of the country.