Tobacco Use in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Risks and Challenges

In recent years, the tobacco pandemic’s magnitude and trajectory has shifted away from high-income countries to low- and middle-income countries and so have the tobacco industry’s marketing efforts and tactics.

Research suggests that Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to face the largest growth in tobacco use in the world.

In an editorial for the journal of Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Dr Kamran Siddiqi highlights the concerning upward trends in tobacco use and how they are impacting some of the most vulnerable populations in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Despite 44 Sub-Saharan African countries signed up to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC), targets, laws and opportunities to introduce policies that work to protect society are being missed. Evidence-based interventions are required to slow down the rise in tobacco use. 

Dr Kamran Siddiqi concludes with "Anti-tobacco advocates must remain vigilant."