استعمال دخانيات در جوانان : برنامه قلب سالم اصفهان

Smoking in youth: Isfahan Healthy Heart Project (IHHP)

Since the age to start smoking has decreased in societies and smoking prevalence has increased, studies must be carried out in order to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of youngsters about smoking to perform proper programming. The present cross-sectional study was formed on 19-25 year old youngsters of the Isfahan and Najafabad cities. Subjects studied were 1315 persons (49% male and 51% female) selected using a randomized multistage sampling method A questionnaire was completed by trained health care workers. The questionnaire included demographic information and questions about KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice) in the field of smoking. Data were statistically analyzed using Chi-square, Logistic regression and independent t-test. The mean score for knowledge and 8.34±1.97 and for attitude 15.39±2.43. Regarding knowledge, there was no significant difference between men and women but regarding attitude, the difference was significant (P<0.0001) and at high school level of education and higher the difference in both fields was meaningful (P<0.0001). But no difference was seen between rural or urban societies. In respect of practice, 11.8% of youngsters smoked (22.5% men, 6.0% women) and the most prevalent product was cigarette (88.9%) with an average 10 per day. The age for starting smoking among young men was 17.3 +1.6 and in young women 20 ±2.9. Sex, smoker parents and education level had a reasonable relation with youngstersʹ smoking habit, respectively. Considering the results of the present study, knowledge and attitude of youngsters about smoking was good unlike the practice that wasn ʹt acceptable in men. In respect to smoking hazard, widespread training programs should be designed even in primary school in order to prevent smoking and also to stop smoking once it begins.