ZANZIBAR, July 9 -- MZEE Amour Ali Kombo, a father of three teenagers in Zanzibar, has been fighting a silent battle at home. His 19-year-old daughter secretly picked up the habit of smoking cigarettes while in school, and despite his desperate efforts, he has not succeeded in getting her to quit. “It breaks my heart,” he says.

“Ive tried everything to convince her that this habit will destroy her health. But I dont know what else to do.” Kombo is not alone. Across Zanzibar, a growing number of parents are raising concerns about the rising trend of cigarette smoking among adolescents and young adults. Their frustration is compounded by what they see as mixed messages from authorities—warnings about the dange...