International Journal of
Psychology and Counselling

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Psychol. Couns.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2499
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJPC
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 221

Article in Press

The Impacts of Smoking Tobacco among Adolescents (Whose age 15 -24): An Explorative Qualitative Study from Gumuz Community, Benishangul Gumuz Region of Ethiopia.

Eyayu Kasseye and Habtamu Tume

  •  Received: 21 December 2019
  •  Accepted: 09 March 2020
Background: Using tobacco is very harmful for public health, and commonly smoked among adolescents. The objective of this study is aimed to investigate the impact of smoking tobacco among Gumuz adolescents in Debatie District of Benishangul Gumuz regional state of Ethiopia. It mainly focus on adolescents whose age from 15 up to 24, and they use pipe or smokeless tobacco regularly. Methods: The study employed qualitative research method with case study design. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants of the study for in depth interview, focused group discussion, and key informant interview data collection tools. The collected data was analyzed through thematic data analysis techniques. Results: Smoking tobacco has a negative impact on people’s economy. The economic ability of Gumuz adolescents is unable to fulfil basic needs: food, clothing and stationery materials due to inability of saving money through tobacco addition. The result also indicated the social impact of tobacco such as addictions, an aid for alleviating stress, tiredness and fatigue, hygiene problem and limited social interaction. Principally, it has an impact on mental and physical health such as the physical change, yawning, cancer, coughing, stress, headache, diabetes, watering of their eyes and loss of appetite. It has also an impact on their education when there is a lack of attention to attend classes and low enrolment rate in schools. Conclusion: From the findings, it can be deduced that, the habits of smoking tobacco among Gumuz adolescents victimized for economical loses, limited social capital, hygiene and health problems. Therefore, attention should be given from this study area through conducting project and research, providing community awareness program and education for immediate health interventions.

Keywords: Tobacco; Smoking; Impacts; Adolescents; Gumuz community