Smoking behavior of University of Forestry students in Yezin, Pyinmana Township, Myanmar

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the smoking behavior of University of Forestry students in Yezin, Pyinmana township, Myanmar and to identify the association between smoking behavior and the following factors: socio-demographic factors, accessibility of cigarettes, media influence, peer group influence, neighbors’ and family influence. A questionnaire was administered to 230 university students of Forestry University. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were used for analysis. The results revealed that the prevalence of smoking among the students was 35.6%. The average age to start smoking was 17years. The factors significantly associated with smoking behavior were gender (p-value < 0.001), level of study (p-value = 0.002), monthly allowance (p-value < 0.001), and ease in obtaining ciga- rettes (p-value < 0.001). Group influence towards smoking behavior included classmates (p-value < 0.001),roommates (p-value < 0.001), close friends (p-value < 0.001) and neighbors (p-value <0.001). The results suggest that the health education programs, especially peer education programs through anti-smoking programs in universities, should be conducted to make students aware of the hazards of smokingon health. Tobacco and a smoke-free environmental policy should be taken into account.