Singlestick purchases: a comparative cross-country analysis in 10 African countries, Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2012-21.

We utilized Global Adult Tobacco Survey data to examine singlestick purchases and related demographic characteristics in 10 African countries (Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania). Results show the weighted percentages and prevalence ratios with predicted marginal means to evaluate significant differences between groups (P < 0.05).

Trends in the use and dual use of factory-made combustible cigarettes, other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes: Results from South African Social Attitudes Surveys during 2007 to 2018.

Introduction: Using more than one tobacco product increases the risk of tobacco-related diseases. We investigated trends in the prevalence and dual use of factory-made (FM) cigarettes, other tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in South Africa over a 12-year period.

Methods: Data from five waves (2007, 2010, 2011, 2017, and 2018) of the South African Social Attitudes Survey (n=14582) were analyzed.

"Are they trying to control us people?": News media coverage of COVID-19 lockdown tobacco sales ban in South Africa.

The South African government imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in the world as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country, including a ban on the sale of tobacco products. This study explored news media coverage of arguments and activities in relation to the South African lockdown tobacco sales ban. We collected media articles published between 26 March to 17 August 2020, which corresponded to the period of the sales ban.

A cross-sectional investigation of softening indicators among South African smokers: Results from the South African Social Attitudes Survey between 2007 and 2018.

Recent studies have shown softening among smokers in different countries and in different population groups i.e., as smoking prevalence declined remaining smokers made more quit attempts and smoked fewer cigarettes per day (CPD), as opposed to hardening.

Moving targets: how the rapidly changing tobacco and nicotine landscape creates advertising and promotion policy challenges.

Tobacco, nicotine and related products have and continue to change rapidly, creating new challenges for policies regulating their advertising, promotion, sponsorship and sales. This paper reviews recent commercial product offerings and the regulatory challenges associated with them. This includes electronic nicotine delivery systems, electronic non-nicotine delivery systems, personal vaporisers, heated tobacco products, nicotine salts, tobacco-free nicotine products, other nicotine products resembling nicotine replacement therapies, and various vitamin and cannabis products that share delivery devices or marketing channels with tobacco products.

Landscape of tobacco control in sub-Saharan Africa.

Yearly, tobacco use kills about 8 million people globally, 80% of whom live in low/middle-income countries. Given sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) rapidly increasing and youthful population, growing incomes and the increased presence of the tobacco industry, the number of tobacco users is growing. The region is predicted to face a heavier burden of tobacco-related diseases and deaths in the future.

Framing the policy debate over tobacco control legislation and tobacco taxation in South Africa.

Background: In 2018, South Africa opened public consultations on its newly proposed tobacco control bill, resulting in substantial public debate in which a range of arguments, either in favour of or against the Bill, was advanced. These were accompanied by the recurring discussions about the annual adjustments in tobacco taxation. This study uses the concept of framing to examine the public debate in South African print media on the potential effects of the legislation, as well as tobacco tax regulations, between their proponents and detractors.

E-cigarette advertising exposure among South African adults in 2017: findings from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Household-based survey.

Participants: 3063 individuals who participated in the 2017 South African Social Attitudes survey, a nationally representative, in-person survey of the non-institutionalised civilian adult population aged ≥16 years EXPOSURE: 'In the past 12 months, have you seen advertisements or promotions for e-cigarettes (including e-shisha, e-pipe) on any of the following media: newspapers/magazines, billboards, in the malls or any other source?'

Main Outcomes: Beliefs and attitudes regarding e-cigarettes.

Circumvention of COVID-19-related restrictions on tobacco sales by the e-cigarette industry in South Africa and comparative analyses of heated tobacco product vs combustible cigarette volume sales during 2018-2020.

As a public health measure against COVID-19, South Africa restricted the sale of "tobacco, e-cigarettes and related products" for 5 months, ending on August 17, 2020. We examined marketing activities related to novel tobacco products (e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products) during this restriction. Using web scraping, we accessed data for 2661 e-cigarette liquids marketed online by South African vendors in June 2020.

Geospatial spread of e-cigarette vape shops in South Africa and the relationship with tobacco product use among adults.

We estimated the spatial distribution of e-cigarette vape shops in South Africa and measured associations with tobacco use among adults. We linked geocoordinates of identified vape shops to internet protocol addresses of individual participants in the 2018 Health 24 survey (n = 18,208). We used logistic regression to measure the associations between proximity to vape shops and tobacco-related behaviors.

Associations between electronic cigarette use and quitting behaviours among South African adult smokers.

Background: The South African Medicines Control Council classifies e-cigarettes as Schedule 3 substances and requires them to be dispensed only within pharmacies. e-Cigarettes are however ubiquitous and are marketed as cessation aids. We investigated the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation among South African adult smokers.

On- and off-licensed premises drinking behaviour among adults in the city of Tshwane, South Africa: An analysis of data from the International Alcohol Control study.

Introduction And Aims: Alcohol use is among the leading risk factors for premature death and morbidity in South Africa. This study sought to identify factors associated with drinking behaviour in on- and off-licensed premises (typical occasion quantity and frequency) among adults in the City of Tshwane, South Africa.

Design And Methods: A household survey was conducted in 2014, using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling design.

Non-Smoker's Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke in South Africa during 2017.

Current South African tobacco control law allows for 25% designated smoking areas in some indoor public places. This study investigates non-smokers' exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in workplaces, homes, cafés/restaurants, and shebeens (local bars) using data from the 2017 South African Social Attitude Survey. Factors associated with any level of exposure were explored using multiple-variable-adjusted logistic regression analysis.

Tobacco use and nicotine dependence among people living with HIV who drink heavily in South Africa: a cross-sectional baseline study.

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) who drink alcohol and use tobacco are particularly vulnerable to tobacco-induced diseases due to an already compromised immune system. This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with tobacco use (cigarette and snuff) among PLWH who drink heavily.

Methods: Participants (n = 623) on antiretroviral therapy for HIV who reported heavy drinking using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and AUDIT-C were recruited from six hospitals in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

News media coverage of shisha in Nigeria from 2014 to 2018.

Introduction: Shisha which was formally popular mostly in the Eastern Mediterranean region is now gaining popularity globally and has become a trending tobacco product in Nigeria. The increasing popularity of shisha is possibly driven by the attractive flavours and the misperception that it is safer than traditional cigarettes. Since the media plays a significant influence on public awareness, perception and understanding of various issues, this study sought to explore the coverage of shisha use by five national newspapers in Nigeria.