Cigarette smoking among Jimma University Teaching and referral hospital outpatients attending services at psychiatry clinic Southwest, Ethiopia

Smoking is currently considered one of the greatest problems in public health worldwide, and it is one of the most avoidable causes of death. Cigarette consumption killed more than 6 million people, nearly 80% in low and middle income countries in 2011. The objective of the current study was to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking and its determinant factors among psychiatric outpatients in Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH). A facility based cross-sectional study was carried out in persons with mental disorders from 1st to 15th of August 2013 in Jimma zone, south-west Ethiopia. The data were collected by interviewing all persons with mental disorders coming for treatment at JUSH by using an interviewer administered questionnaire. The overall current prevalence of cigarette smoking was 20.5%. The prevalence of cigarette smoking in persons with schizophrenia, bipolar I disorders and major depressive disorders were 28.2, 17.8 and 16.3%, respectively. Cigarette smoking was strongly associated with male gender, khat use and alcohol use disorders. The current prevalence of cigarette smoking was high amongst persons with mental disorders. Attention should be given routine screening for cigarette smoking in psychiatric patients and consequent management of smoking along with psychiatric management. Key words: Cigarette smoking, determinants, Schizophrenia.