CIGARETTE SMOKING AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH: A SURVEY OF SELECTED SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EKPOMA

The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge and practice of cigarette smoking among in-school adolescents in Ekpoma. A sample of 353 senior secondary students drawn from selected schools in the area was studied in a cross-sectional design using self-administered questionnaires. Respondents ’ knowledge was assessed with questions that bother on aspects of smoking with public health implications. Mean age of respondents was 16.6 years and a near-equal gender distribution. The results showed a smoking prevalence of 11.6 % while the percentage attempts to quit was 26.8%. Percentage awareness about the harmful effects of smoking was 86.1 % while comprehensive knowledge of important aspects of smoking was good in 60.3 % of respondents. There was a significant relationship between smoking and self-reported academic performance (X2 = 5.002; p=0.025; OR = 0.47; CI (95%) = 0.22 – 0.96). Conclusively, the prevalence of smoking was high among in-school adolescents in the study area. We recommend special programmes and services aimed at reducing smoking among adolescents in a learning environment