Prevalence, knowledge, perception and factors influencing smoking among primary school students in Melaka smoke-free city
In order to increase the proportion of successful attempts to quit smoking, it is important to understand the factors influencing smoking among individuals since their young age. Objectives were to estimate the prevalence of smoking and to determine the knowledge, perception, and factors influence...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association
2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/52242/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/52242/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/52242/7/52242.pdf |
| Summary: | In order to increase the proportion of successful attempts to quit smoking, it is
important to understand the factors influencing smoking among individuals since their young age. Objectives were to estimate the prevalence of smoking and to determine
the knowledge, perception, and factors influence smoking among primary school
students in Melaka Tengah District. A cross-sectional study carried out in October
2015. Sample sizes of 269 students were selected using stratified random sampling
technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Results of
this study showed ever smokers represent 28.6% of the students. The earliest age of
smoking initiation was seven-year-old. The mean knowledge on smoking were higher
(19.5 ±5.6) among those who doesn’t smoke as compare to those who ever smoke
(16.9 ±4.2). About perception, 74.0% of the primary school children know the danger
of smoking. Among those who smoke, the majority of them (74.0%) did not feel regret,
smoking makes them look matured (44.8%), smoking solved their problems (43.8%). In
regards to the factors influencing smoking, peer pressure has the highest prevalence
which is 89.6%, early exposure from family members who are smokers (71.9%).
Findings from this study should be considered as a warning for an impending epidemic.
Thus, the smoking prevention program should have a greater role in schools and should
be started as early as in kindergarten. Governmental commitment and social support
are vital in health education and awareness and especially in ensuring that smoking
programs are being implemented and sustained. |
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