Abstract: Cigarette smoking is the commonest form of tobacco use globally. Tobacco related morbidity and mortality is a public health challenge with millions of deaths occurring annually. The majority of the undergraduate students studied knew that smoking can affect the lungs (96.4%), the heart (91.6%), and can lead to poor academic performance (61.6%). Those who have ever smoked were 19.2%, while 6.0% were current smokers. Most started smoking at 16-20 years (79.2%), while a few (2.1%) started at ages 11-15. About half (43.8%) smoked 4-6 sticks per day, but as many as 14.5% smoked ≥ 11 sticks per day. The most reported predisposing factor to smoking was peer pressure (78.8%). Efforts at quitting smoking had been made by 37.5%. Some had knowledge of nicotine chewing gum (31.2%) and some had used it (8.3%). No association was found between respondents’ sex and being a smoker. However, there was a significant association between knowledge of cigarette smoking as a cause of lung cancer and not smoking.
Keywords: Cigarette, tobacco, smoking, nicotine, undergraduate, students, Nigeria.
Title: CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA
Author: Chinyerem Cynthia Nwachukwu, Gabriel Ifeanyi Eyisi, Ifeoma Anne Njelita, Uche Marian Umeh, Chijioke Amara Ezenyeaku
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Vol. 11, Issue 1, April 2023 - September 2023
Page No: 179-186
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 09-August-2023
