Implications of Cigarette Smoking Among the Youth. Case Study- Youth of Umukparakpara Village of Akatta in Oru East Lga in Imo State
CHAPTER ONE
objectives of this study are to:
- Assess individual/personal factors that contribute to cigarette smoking among youths at the Umukparakpara village.
- Determine socio-cultural factors that contribute to cigarette smoking among youths at the Umukparakpara village.
- Determine environmental factors that contribute to cigarette smoking at the Umukparakpara village.
- Assess students perceptions regarding health consequences of cigarette smoking at the Umukparakpara village.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
Literature review refers to an account of what has been published on a particular topic by scholars and researchers (Babbie, 2012). The literature was reviewed in two phases which are data-based and based on theoretical frameworks. The aim of the literature review was to become knowledgeable about the main published works concerning cigarette smoking among youths. Reputable websites were consulted such as Science Direct, Ebscohost, Sabinet and PubMed. The Boolean method was used to search for key words such as factors or smoking or youths. The literature review was done according to the objectives of the study.
Factors that contribute to cigarette smoking among youths
Socio-cultural factors contributing to cigarette smoking
Social factors are determined by a person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior that can be largely influenced by their society and cultural beliefs (Reddy, Fashola, Shisana, Jonas, and Sewpaul 2015). Cigarette smoking is determined by the social environment where one lives. Young people who reside in communities where smoking is a culturally approved event are likely to smoke. A quantitative study conducted in five European universities reported that cigarette smoking among youths was influenced by the cultural differences that existed among communities (Jewell 2015, and Radi et al., 2014).Students who came from cultural groups that smoked cigarettes had a greater chance to smoke in comparison to those who came from non-smoking cultural communities (Karimy, Niknami, Heidarnia, and Shamsi, 2013).
In a similar study conducted in Nigeria by Egbe, Petersen, Meyer-Weitz and Asante (2014) revealed that students who are raised in communities that promote cigarette smoking through the use of cultural events that include ceremonies and medicinal uses of tobacco are likely to smoke cigarettes due to positive social perception of cigarette smoking within the communities. Jewell (2015) argues that having role models in the communities such as the traditional leaders who smoke can influence students to start smoking. Having subjective norms could also significantly predict intention to initiate smoking. Karimy, Niknami, Heidarnia, and Shamsi (2013) reported that subjective norms of students on smoking could significantly predict intention to initiate smoking. The norms could be as a result of social environment where the student is exposed to.
Students who have friends that smoke cigarette at university are more likely to initiate smoking. Ngahane, Ekobo and Kuaban (2015) found that the most important independent factor associated with cigarette smoking among youths was having friends who smoked. Evidence from two longitudinal studies conducted in the USA showed that non-smoking students who had friends who smoked were more likely to start smoking in the future than those without any smoking friends (Freedman, 2012). Bowing down to peer pressure is one of the major reasons why the students initiate smoking. In a study conducted in Nigeria by Egbe, et al (2014) revealed that most of the current smokers started smoking in the company of friends followed by being in the company of relatives.
Having a parent who smoked also influenced people to start smoking cigarettes. A study by Reddy et al (2015) reported that parental/guardian smoking was significantly associated with smoking among youths in tertiary institution. The influence of parental smoking on youths smoking behavior was confirmed by Bricker, Schuck, Otten, Kleinjan, and Engels (2014) in a cohort study concerning five thousand families. The study finding is confirmed by the outcomes of other studies conducted in developing countries as well as in developed countries (Radi et al., 2014). In fact, children are more likely to imitate the behaviors and attitudes of their parents who are considered by them as models. This is indicated by a study conducted at a University in Imo state that youth who come from family members that smoke are 50% likely to smoke due to exposure (Kruger et al., 2016). Therefore, social and family situations have an influence on cigarette smoking among youths (Smith, Bean, Mitchell, Speizer and Fries 2016).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter outlines the research design, study setting, study population, sampling method and procedure, data collection instrument and procedure, data analysis, validity and reliability, ethical considerations and the dissemination of results.
Research Approach: Quantitative Approach
Research design is a procedure for collecting, interpreting analysing, and reporting data in a research study (Monette, Sullivan, Dejong, Hilton, 2014). A quantitative study is a study that is used to quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data or data that can be transformed into usable statistics (Engel and Schutt, 2013). This study utilised quantitative approach because it offers a high level of measurement by measuring how many people feel, think or behave in a certain way. Furthermore, the quantitative technique minimizes the researcher’s bias as compared to a qualitative approach where there is interaction between the researcher and the participants.
Study Design
The study adopted a cross sectional and descriptive design which describes a phenomenon at one point in time rather than several points.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATIONS OF RESULTS
Introduction
Chapter four outlines the results of this survey. Firstly, the description of the (i) socio- demographics; (ii) the relationships of socio-demographic factors and smoking status of the students (iii) Individual factors, social cultural and environmental factors contributing to students to smoke on campus. This was followed by a cross tabulation of contributing factors with socio demographics. Lastly the cigarette smoking and its implications were presented. The responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The data is been presented in tables and graphs.
The study response rate
The overall response rate was considered as very high. Out of 427 questionnaires administered, 407 were completed and returned to the researcher. This translates to 95% response rate.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
This chapter outlines the summary, conclusions and recommendations based on the study objectives. This is based on the research findings that is presented and discussed in the previous chapters. The study established several findings which make a direct contribution to knowledge and policy formulation. Recommendations both for further research as well as policy and practice have been made.
Executive Summary
The aim of the study was to investigate factors contributing to cigarette smoking and its implications among Youth of Umukparakpara village of Akatta in Oru East LGA in imo state. A self-administered questionnaire was formulated in line with study objectives in order to collect data. The data was captured in a Micro soft excel spread sheet and transferred to Statistics Package for Social Sciences. Research conclusions have been outlined and it has been indicated that individual factors, socio-cultural factors and environmental factors have a negative impact on the smoking status of students. The results from the study could form a database for further comparative studies. Recommendations have been drafted in line with the study objectives. The study reviewed previous studies with a view to establish academic gaps which the present study sought to bridge. This was done through library research.
Individual factors
One of the study objectives was to assess individual factors contributing to cigarette smoking among Youth of Umukparakpara village of Akatta in Oru East LGA in imo state. The study findings revealed that the majority of respondents agreed that students smoked cigarette because they believe smoking enhances their academic performance, expression of freedom, depression, experiencing stress due to various reasons, and having lack of knowledge regarding the implications of smoking. The study further revealed that a minority of students reported that students disagreed that students smoke due to role models who are smokers, believe in themselves, and as a way of losing weight.
Socio-cultural factors
The second study objective was to assess socio-cultural factors contributing to cigarette smoking. The majority of the respondents agreed to a very great extent that students smoked cigarettes due to attendance of social events, having friends who smoked cigarettes, having family members who smoke, roommates who smoke, a community that endorses cigarette smoking, and the belief that smoking extends social interactions. The study findings further revealed that students smoked cigarettes due to medical problems and a culture that permits them to smoke to a lesser extent.
Environmental factors
The third objective was to establish the influence of environmental factors contributing to cigarette smoking among Youth of Umukparakpara village of Akatta in Oru East LGA in imo state. The measurement of this objective was based on one indicator namely; environmental factors. The major finding was that most students strongly agreed that availability of cigarettes in every corner of the campus made them smoke, lack of rules prohibiting smoking, new environment without parents and guardian, regular adverts of cigarettes on mass media and social media, lack of anti-smoking posters make students to smoke and observation of other students smoking encourages cigarette smoking. All these are environmental factors influencing students to smoke cigarettes at the Umukparakpara village in Nigeria.
Knowledge of implications regarding cigarette smoking
The fourth objective of the study was to establish knowledge about the implications of cigarette smoking among youths at the Umukparakpara village. The measurement of this objective was based on one indicator namely; awareness of implications of cigarette smoking. The major finding was that most students were very much aware that smoking causes lung diseases, lung cancer, heart diseases, hypertension, infertility problems, affect unborn babies, causes malnutrition, cause wound healing delays, secondhand effect and triggers asthma. All these are implications of cigarette smoking likely to be experienced by students if they continued smoking.
Conclusion of the Study
The study found that there exists a positive association between smoking status and health consequences and smoking status and demographic factors. Individual factors, socio-cultural factors, and environmental factors influence cigarette smoking among youths at the Umukparakpara village.
Recommendations of the study
On the basis of the above conclusions, the following recommendations were made about factors contributing to cigarette smoking.
Recommendations for policy makers
- Banning of cigarette smoking in public places and the implementation of stiffer measuresto control the availability and accessibility of cigarettes to the community could reduce smoking among young
- Strictpolicies should be enacted to handle smoking issues in the country; the Department of Health must intensify its anti-drug campaigns in order to have smoke–free society with a special focus on the young
- The government should prevent selling of cigarettes to students in shops and otherplaces near the schools which would be in line with the laws of
- The government and concerned parties should make concerted efforts in restricting thespread of the ban of cigarette smoking among our youths through awareness
- The government should impose taxes on cigarettes to increase cost of production andconsequently increases prices of tobacco and discourage its
- The ministry of health working with other ministries and youth organizations should establish committee to be concerned with tobacco as a public health
Recommendations to the tertiary institution
- There is therefore a need for the institution to integrate health education program in thebasic study programs, to address the knowledge gap and risk behaviors of cigarette
- There,should be an implementation of a health education programmes at tertiary institutions that are aimed at creating awareness and imparting life skills that are necessary for critical thinking, conducive to constructive peer relations and healthy
- Thestudy recommends universities to install anti-smoking signage on all university premises to ensure a smoke free environment aimed at protecting students from being exposed to cigarette smoking.
- The study suggests that universities provide educational programmes that teach healthrisks of cigarette smoking and the skills that are necessary to protect students from being tempted to smoke
Recommendation for students/ community members
- Parentsshould be aware of their youngsters and their friends.
- Adultsin our schools and universities where young people are commonly found should set good examples by role modeling the
- Religiousorganizations such as churches and mosques should fight against cigarette smoking in the form of
- Parents shouldteach their youngsters on the effects of cigarette smoking on their health, society and human dignity, since charity begins at
- Studentsshould choose their friends wisely and be able to distinguish between what is right and what is
- Declaring the Umukparakpara village’s campus as a “tobacco free zone” will help to protect students from exposure to both active and passive smoking
Recommendations to Campus Health Authorities
- Health promotion practitioners on campus need to conduct youth-friendly adverts thatdiscourage young people from cigarette smoking and encourage those already smoking to quit
- Another recommendation is that there should be a department at the university that is in charge for counseling of stressed students and policies should be formulated that are aimed at preventing depression among
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