Knowledge and Perception of Health Implications of Passive Smoking among In-school Female Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study
Abstract
Despite the growing burden of passive smoking, there remains a critical gap in knowledge and perception of its health implications among in-school female adolescents. This study investigates the knowledge and perceptions of the health implications associated with passive smoking among female adolescents in public secondary schools within the Agara community, Ibadan, Oyo State. The study was descriptive and cross-sectional. Data were obtained from 394 in-school female adolescents, selected from the study population using a multistage sampling technique. The study respondents' knowledge and perception of health implications and predisposing factors to passive smoking were assessed using a pre-tested, semi-structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with statistical significance set at 5%. The mean age of the respondents was 14.9 ± 1.9 years, with the majority (57.1%) categorized as early adolescents. Most respondents (65.7%) had cigarette-selling shops on their street, 33.0% were exposed to smokers in their neighbourhood, 40.9% had siblings who smoked, while 29.5% had parents who smoked. The majority of respondents (79.9%) had poor knowledge of passive smoking, and 45.4% had a negative perception of its health implications. There was a statistically significant association between age group and knowledge of passive smoking (p = 0.006). Respondents in early adolescence were less likely to have good…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
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