KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PREVALENCE OF SECONDHAND SMOKING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a substantial health hazard and a major public health issue causing death, diseases and disability. However, in Nigeria not much efforts have been devoted to preventing and investigating students’ exposure to secondhand smoking. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and prevalence of secondhand smoking among undergraduate students of the University of Ibadan. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey which involved the use of a four stage sampling technique to select 395 students from the undergraduate students’ population. A validated self-administered semi-structured questionnaire developed from relevant literature was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence of SHS exposure, knowledge on secondhand smoking, attitudes towards secondhand smoking, factors influencing secondhand smoking and self-efficacy in preventing secondhand smoking. Overall knowledge on secondhand smoking was assessed using a 17-item, 21 points instrument. Knowledge scores ≤9, >9-15 and >15 were classified as poor, fair and good respectively. Students attitude was scored on an 11-item, 22 points instrument. Scores ≤11 and >11were categorised as negative and positive attitude respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi square tests at p=0.05 level of significance. Respondents’ mean age was 20.9±3.4 and exposure to secondhand smoke was reported by 93.2% of the respondent. Although the proportion of males (94.0%) exposed to SHS was higher than females (93.2%), the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Students were mostly exposed to SHS at public places (80.0%), in public transports (61.0%) and schools (38.7%). The proportion of respondents exposed to secondhand smoke in the last thirty (30) days prior to the study was significantly high ranging from 4.6% to 43.3%, with 11.1% of the respondents being exposed 5 – 6days within a week. Although, relatively low percentage (38.0%) of the students had good knowledge on the health consequences of SHS with overall knowledge score of 14.1± 3.6, a higher percentage of 80.6% and 66.6% had positive attitude and high self-efficacy respectively. Also, respondents identified factors that influence students’ exposure to SHS as lack of implementation of educational strategies in schools, students smoking in the hostels, lack of smoke free policies in

schools and public places, and easy accessibility and affordability of cigarette around schools and off campus. This study indicates that most of the students are exposed to SHS irrespective of their positive attitude and high self-efficacy in preventing secondhand smoking. Therefore, Universities authorities should design educational programs that would reduce exposure to SHS and advocate for enforcement of smoke free policies in all environments.