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Abstract
This study was carried out in some preparatory and secondary schools in Zagazig district during the academic year 2004- 2005. It was done in 2 stages:
The 1st stage: A cross- sectional study was done using an anonymous self administered questionnaire.
The 2 nd stage: An intervention was carried out where health education message was disseminated among all participant students.
A total of 1450 students were interviewed, of them 750 were in the preparatory
stage and 700 were in the secondary stage.
The following definitions were used:
1) Never smoked: Those who have never smoked a cigarette (not even puffs).
2) Ever smoked: Ever tried cigarette smoking even one or two puffs. It includes both current and who have stopped smoking.
3) Experimenters: Those who ever tried cigarettes, but never smoke regularly and not smoke in the previous month.
4) Current smokers: Those who smoked one day or more in the previous month preceding the survey.
The prevalence of ever smoking in the studied sample was 9.2%. The current
smokers represent 36.1% of those ever smoked. The main causes of smoking were peer pressure and curiosity, while the common site of smoking was public places. It was found that 33.8% of those who ever smoked cigarettes had tried to smoke shisha.
Students in the urban area were more exposed to environmental tobacco smoke at home or means of transportation than the students in the rural area.
About half of the current smokers (47.9%) had ever tried to quit smoking. Parents’ awareness of the smoking habit was associated with the quitting trial attempt.
In this study, it was shown that smoking was related to the presence of other smokers at home either father or brother. While, students who were exposed to family discussion about the hazards of smoking were less likely to try smoking.
Majority of the students (76.6%) had known the Islamic Fatwa against smoking, and most of them (93.4%) think smoking is a sin.
Most of them had bad perceptions about male and female smokers, while 30.4% of them think smokers had more friends.
Regarding the addictive nature of cigarette smoking, 19.2% of the students think that smoking is addictive.
Adolescent smokers report that they are significantly more likely than their nonsmoking peers to experience shortness of breath, coughing spells, phlegm production, wheezing, and overall diminished physical health.
As countries strive towards tobacco-free societies, prevention of smoking among youth is of key importance..
So this study has directed the attention to the fact that in spite of the knowledge about the health effects of smoking, the attitude and beliefs need to be changed to induce active trial to quit.