EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF SMOKING AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS IN BATANGAS CITY

This study assessed the primary reasons for smoking among female students as well as their level of awareness on its health hazard. Specifically, the study discussed the smoking habit, reasons for initiation of smoking, level of awareness on the health hazard and the health risk to women and the major diseases caused by smoking. Descriptive method was used in this study. Data were collected through a structured que4stionnaire. A group of 250 smokers were taken as respondents through simple sampling method. Statistical treatments used were percentage distribution and weighted mean. Based from the findings, the study disclosed that the habit of smoking started as early as adolescence and continued until adulthood. Socio-cultural factors such as peer and parents influence motivated the young female to start smoking. Meanwhile, availability and affordability of cigarettes made easier for the female for the female smokers to start smoking. Likewise, they were fully aware of the hazardous effects of smoking to health although the specific effects to childbearing women were not known to them. As an educational institution, a community extension program was proposed focusing on the prevention of smoking among women