%0 Journal Article
%T The Prevalence, Pattern, and Factors Affecting Cigarette Smoking among Undergraduate Students in a Tertiary Institution in Plateau State, Nigeria
%A Kingsley C. Okafor
%A Lucy O. Idoko
%A Love Temple-Obi
%A John S. Bimba
%J Open Journal of Preventive Medicine
%P 169-182
%@ 2162-2485
%D 2023
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojpm.2023.135011
%X <strong>Background:</strong> Cigarette smoking is a modern health hazard, and it is preventable. It starts in adolescence for 90% of adults with an average age of onset ranging between 13 - 15 years and is commoner among males. This study is aimed at the prevalence, pattern, and factors affecting Cigarette smoking among undergraduate students in a tertiary institution in Plateau State. <strong>Method:</strong> A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 290 undergraduate students of the University of Jos was selected using the multistage sampling method. <strong>Results:</strong> The prevalence of cigarette use was 5.3%. Seven (70.0%) of students smoke daily, 6 (60.0%), smoke cigarettes before Lecture Hours, and 90.0% are unwilling to stop smoking. Smoking was done to experience the highness feeling, 8 (80.0%), peer smoking 8 (80.0%), to reduce stress and tension 5 (50.0%), and Smoking for Fun 7 (70.0%). Most students first smoked a cigarette when with friends 6 (60.0%). Factors significantly associated with the current use of cigarettes among the respondents were religion (<i>¦Ö</i><sup>2</sup> = 4.167, p = 0.041) Level/year of study (<i>¦Ö</i><sup>2</sup> = 32.266, p ¡Ü 0.001), and type of family (<i>¦Ö</i><sup>2</sup> = 6.271, p = 0.043). <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Most students smoke daily, smoke before lectures start, and are unwilling to stop smoking. Health-promotion program to help smoking cessation and prevent initiation of smoking is recommended.
%K Cigarette
%K Smoking
%K Students
%K Undergraduates
%K Plateau
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=125278