Tobacco Use Patterns and Associated Health Risks Among Male Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Rivers State, South South Nigeria

Tobacco use among adolescents is an escalating public health concern in Nigeria, with early initiation increasing the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and cancer. This study examines tobacco use patterns and their associated health risks among male secondary school students in Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design is applied to a sample of 340 male students aged 13 to 19 years drawn from ten secondary schools in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor local government areas through stratified multistage sampling. A self-administered questionnaire captures data on initiation age, frequency of use, types of tobacco products consumed, peer influence, and awareness of health consequences. SPSS is used for data analysis, with chi-square tests evaluating associations between predisposing factors and tobacco use status. The 2022 Global Youth Tobacco Survey data for Nigeria indicate rising use of alternative tobacco products among adolescents in oil-producing states, compounded by poor enforcement of tobacco control regulations. The Social Cognitive Theory provides the conceptual basis for understanding peer modelling and self-efficacy as drivers of adolescent tobacco behaviour. Findings will inform school-based tobacco prevention programmes and support advocacy for strengthened implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act. Keywords: tobacco use, adolescents, secondary schools, health risks, Rivers State.