Background: Tobacco is one of the leading preventable causes of non-communicable diseases. Previous studies
gave due emphasis only for cigarette smoking with little attention given for other types of tobacco use. This study
describes the prevalence of all common forms of tobacco use and identify associated factors among adults in Ethiopia.
Methods: The study used data from the 2011 Ethiopian demographic and health survey. An index was constructed
from yes or no responses for common types of tobacco use. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression statistical
models were employed to determine associated factors with tobacco using adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and their 95 %
confidence intervals (CI).
Results: The overall prevalence of tobacco use was 4.1 % [95 % CI: (3.93–4.37)]. The highest prevalence 16.9 % [95 %
CI: (11.02–23.76)] in Gambella and the lowest 0.8 % [95 % CI: (0.48–1.29)] in Tigray regions were reported. The odds of
tobacco use in the age group 20–24 and 45–49 years were [AOR = 2.3; 95 % CI: (1.60–3.21)] and [AOR = 9.1; 95 %
CI: (6.06–13.54)] more likely to use tobacco, respectively, as compared to the age group 15–19 years. Traditional religion
[AOR = 5.5; 95 % CI: (3.96–7.55)], Catholics [AOR = 3.40; 95 % CI: (2.03–5.69)] and Islamic followers [AOR = 2.8; 95 %
CI: (2.31–3.32)] had higher odds of using tobacco as compared to Orthodox religion followers. Adults in the poorest
wealth quintile were [AOR = 1.4; 95 % CI: (1.05–1.79)] more likely to use tobacco as compared to the richest wealth
quintile. The odds of tobacco use among males were higher as compared to females [AOR = 13.08; 95 %
CI: (10.24–16.72)]. Formerly married adults were [AOR = 1.71; 95 % CI: (1.20–2.34)] more likely to use tobacco as
compared to never married. Adults who were professionally working [AOR = 0.49; 95 % CI: (0.29–0.85)] had less
likely to use tobacco as compared to non-working adults. However, adults who were working in sales, skilled
and unskilled occupations had [AOR = 1.6; 95 % CI: (1.18–2.24)], [AOR = 1.7, 95 % CI: (1.21–2.50)] and [AOR = 3.8
95 % CI: (2.27–6.23)] more likely to use tobacco, respectively, as compared to non-working adults. Individuals who
had experience of child death were [AOR = 1.4; 95 % CI: (1.17–1.63)] more likely to use tobacco as compared to
their counterparts.
Conclusion: The overall prevalence of tobacco use seems low in Ethiopia. However, a significant regional
variation of tobacco use was observed. A tailored public health interventions targeting regions with high
prevalence of tobacco use is recommended