Smoking Behaviors and Related Factors Among Secondary School Students in Duhok City
Abstract
Background: The use of tobacco products among adolescents is a global health concern with reduced available information about the driving cause enhancing smoking in school-age adolescents and the synchronised role of friends, school, and parents in initiating the adolescent quitting. Aim: This study aims to examine smoking behaviours, beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes among male secondary school students in Duhok City (Iraq). Methods: A descriptive study of 420 students was conducted from October to December 2022. A cluster stratified systematic random sample was used. Results: The smoking frequency was 36.4%. Most students had a moderate level of knowledge regarding smoking's harms. Attitudes ranged from neutral to negative regarding smoking's health and social impacts. Smoking behaviours are prevalent among these students, but knowledge deficits and social norms sustain this behaviour. Student attitude revealed that there are agreement (>50%, p50%, p
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