Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Tobacco Use among Patients Treated at the Neuro-Psycho Pathological Centre of the University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Introduction: Tobacco smoking, a global epidemic driven by nicotine dependence, is closely linked to psychiatric disorders, exacerbating symptoms and complicating recovery. This study conducted at CNPP/UNIKIN aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of tobacco dependence among psychiatric patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study from November 2023 to January 2024 (3 months). A convenience sample of 204 patients with psychiatric disorders treated at the CNPP during this period and using psychoactive substances was recruited. An ad-hoc questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, tobacco use patterns, psychiatric comorbidities, motivations for continued use (Horn Test), and tobacco dependence (Fagerstr？m Scale). Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with tobacco dependence. We used binary logistic regression and included variables with p < 0.20 from bivariate analysis in the multivariate model. Collinearity was assessed before final model selection. Results: One hundred and forty-six (71.6%) participants were regular tobacco smokers. The frequency of tobacco addiction was 63.7%. Acquired habit as a motivation for smoking (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 - 4.33) was identified as the only factor associated with tobacco addiction. Conclusion: This study highlights the close relationship between psychiatric disorders and tobacco use in this population, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address acquired habits in prevention and smoking cessation programs.