[Smoking among health workers at four large hospitals in Dakar (Senegal)]

The addiction to tobacco remains a significant problem in the context of medical practice in African in general and in Senegal in particular. It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The main purposes of this study were to establish the smoking habits of hospital staff as a step towards elaborating a strategy for an anti-smoking campaign within the hospital environment.

The study was a cross-sectional, prospective, descriptive going study conducted between 1st March 2007 and May 15th, 2008. We recovered 662 out of 750 questionnaires collected representing a 75% participation rate.

Eighty-five respondents reported that they were smokers (12.8%). The sex-ratio was 7.5 times more common in men. The paramedical staff were more likely to smoke than doctors (14% versus 12.2%). The average age of the smokers was of 37.4 years. Women had begun to smoke at an earlier age (17.4 years against 20.5 years). According to the Fagerström test, 87% were averagely or strongly dependent on nicotine. It was mainly the pleasure (41.2%) and the influence of their circle of acquaintances (36.5%) that prompted the staff to smoke. Smoking cessation was most commonly achieved through the use of willpower alone (44.4%).

The mortality and morbidity arising from the addiction to smoking is entirely avoidable in contrast to other pandemics. Consequently, engagement in the fight against smoking must constitute a major priority for health workers who must set an example for their patients.