The Pattern of Smoking and Associated Factors among Intermediate and Secondary School Students in Al-Khobar City Area, Eastern Saudi Arabia | ||||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||||
| Article 4, Volume 33, Issue 1, January 2003, Page 61-72 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.2003.199243 | ||||
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| Author | ||||
| Sameeh M. Al-Almaie | ||||
| Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Aim: To determine the pattern of smoking and associated factors among intermediate and secondary school boys. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a random sample of third-grade intermediate, and three grades secondary school male students within Alkhobar city area, eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Prevalence of smoking among the teachers in the same schools was also investigated. Results: The sample was 1240 students, selected from 11 schools, with a mean age of 16.5±1.82 years. The number of students who practiced smoking [Hubble-bubbly and cigarettes] was 196 [14.1 %]. Those who smoked cigarettes were 187[13.5%], while 115[8.3%] smoked Hubble-bubbly, and 53[3.8%] smoked only one of them. The majority of smokers [88.2%] started to smoke after the age of 11 years, for more than 3 years, to have the experience of it. There were significantly more smokers among students who reported fair or poor relationship with their fathers [P< 0.001], siblings (P < 0.006], or between their parents [P< 0.002]. There were significantly more smokers among students who had a high score of knowledge about the toxic substances of cigarettes [P<0.00001], and risks of cigarette smoking [P < 0.01]. Out of 142 teachers, there were 31 [21.8%] who practiced smoking. Conclusion: A high prevalence of smoking was found among male intermediate and secondary school students in the Al-Khobar area. Unstable relationships in the students' family may be a predisposing factor for this habit. Initiation of smoking prevention / cessation in schools is urgently needed. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| School student; smoking; knowledge; social relationships; Saudi Arabia | ||||
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Statistics Article View: 79 |
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