Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke among Adolescent in Secondary School Students in Sana’a, Yemen

Introduction The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of secondary school students in Sana a Yemen related to exposure to second-hand smoking. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sana a city. The total sample size was 336 students in which 63 were males and 273 were females. These students were stratified random sampling. Data were collected by using Questionnaire comprising of 3 parts: Part 1- consists of socio- demographic data. Part 2- consists of the knowledge regarding smoking and second-hand smoking and Part 3-consists of adolescents attitude in relation to second-hand smoking. Results Out of 336 students, majority were between 14-18 years old (75.9%), males (81.2%) , (55.7%)of them was fathers occupation private employee and low educated mother was (86.3%).The students who do not have smoking habit were (94.3%),and those who do not have friends with the habit of smoking was (57.4%). (57.10) having some one else at home who smokes beside them .The reaction of non printed mass media for SHS warning was (83.3%). The exposed to smoke out door was (60.1%). In this study, the majority of students had inadequate knowledge about the second- hand smoke was (52.7%). A higher percentage of students who had unfavorable attitudes toward secondhand smoke was (86.6%). Conclusions We concluded that The level of knowledge and attitude about the second-hand smoke is relatively low among the secondary school student in Sana a Yemen. The finding of this study emphasized the need of effective awareness programs to increase level of consciousness and knowledge regarding SHS.