Prevalence of smoking in secondary schools in the greater Accra region of Ghana

Tobacco smoking is fast becoming a public health problem in Ghana and the youth are at a greater risk of becoming victims of it. A survey of nine secondary (high) schools in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana showed that 31.1% of students have smoked before and that 10.3% smoke cigarettes regularly. A significant number of those who had ever smoked (32.6%) came from high socio-economic homes as exemplified by the level of education of the father. Advertising appears to be a factor as to why students start to smoke. Most students (59.4%) appear to know smoking is injurious to health. There is need to motivate secondary school students about not smoking. There is also need to legislate in Ghana to prevent the sale of tobacco products to young people and prohibit smoking in schools and in public places.