Table 2 Prevalence of past month tobacco smoking by demographic characteristics, the timing of drop out and reasons for leaving school

Total

Gender

p < .05

Boy^a

[59.6–63.5]

a > b

Girl^b

[31.6–36.2]

Age

>.05

13 years

[41.4–55.2]

14 years

[46.4–58.5]

15 years

[45.5–57.6]

16 years

[45.4–55.0]

17 years

[50.5–59.1]

18 years

[45.9–53.4]

19 years

[47.2–51.8]

Province

p < .05

Gauteng ^a

[54.5–60.8]

a > b; a > c; a < d

Kwazulu Natal^b

[31.7–37.2]

b < d

Mpumalanga^c

[36.4–42.6]

c < d

Western Cape^d

[66.7–72.1]

Race

p < .05

African^a

[41.0–44.5]

a < b; a < c; a < d

Coloured^b

[71.6–77.3]

b > e

Indian^c

[53.3–75.5]

White^d

[46.4–71.0]

Other^e

[36.6–55.3]

Area

p < .05

Rural^a

[42.0–46.8]

a < b

Urban^b

[53.9–59.8]

Peri – urban^c

[46.6–53.4]

Timing of drop out

p < .05

Grade 7 or lower^a

[45.8–52.9]

a < b; a < c; a > f

Grade 8^b

[53.0–60.4]

b > d; b > e; b > f

Grade 9^c

[54.5–61.9]

c > d; c > e; c > f

Grade 10^d

[44.8–51.8]

d > f

Grade 11^e

[42.3–49.8]

Grade 12^f

[32.5–41.7]

Reasons for leaving school

p > .05

No reason for leaving school

[46.6–53.3]

Being pregnant or made someone pregnant

[47.6–54.6]

Working to help the family

[49.6–56.9]

Not enough money to pay for school fees

[45.7–52.8]

Had to help with looking after the house and your

siblings

[44.3–57.5]

Problems with your school work, teachers or the

learners

[41.8–51.1]

The school was too far

[40.5–54.8]

Other

[48.1–56.8]