Factors Associated with Smoking Behaviors among Military Cadets of King Khalid Military Academy (KKMA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2015-2016)
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Research Professionals - Year 2017, Vol 3, Issue 6
Abstract
Background: Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors for premature death with nearly six million deaths occurring worldwide. The percentage of smokers in Saudi population vary by age groups and regarding to adult group the prevalence is ranging from 11.6 - 52.3% and about 35%among military personnel in KSA. Objectives: To estimate prevalence of smoking among cadets, to identify factors that motivate cadets to smoke, to assess knowledge of cadets about hazard of smoking and to assess exposure of cadets to passive smoking among military cadets of KKMA. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted at King Khaled Military Academy in Riyadh. The study covers all military cadets of KKMA in the year 2015-2016 in all levels. A self-generated Arabic questionnaire was used with total 38 questions to assess the prevalence and factors associated with smoking among military cadets. The questionnaire was distributed by the military supervisors in the academy who know about the study objectives during the educational classes. Results: Three hundred male participants completed the questionnaire (response rate 100%). Age ranged from 18 – 26 years with mean age 20.31 years old (SD=1.27), 131 subjects (43.7%) were smokers and most of them they had the first cigarette at age between 6 – 19 years with a mean of 14.78 years (SD=2.4). 209 participants (69.7%) having positive history of passive smoking exposure. Smoking frequency was found to be highest among cadets whose in third year 70% and cadets with income less than 5000 SAR (t=43.68, p=0.001) and (t=6.95, p=0.03) respectively. The mean motivational score was 4.08/9 (SD=1.575), and the most important motivational factor for smoking are friends (n=257, 85.7%), work stressor (n= 231, 71%) and social stressor (n=202, 67.3%). The mean knowledge score was 11.34/15 (SD=1.67). There is no difference in the knowledge score between smokers and nonsmokers (t=0.94,p=0.34) and the participants whose exposed to passive smoking are getting higher score in motivation score (t=2.16, p=0.031). Smokers with better knowledge about smoking hazard having more desire to quit smoking (mean=11.68, SD=1.397) than smokers with less knowledge (mean=10.25, SD=2.329) (t=4.35, P=0.001). Conclusion: Despite good knowledge about the hazards of tobacco consumption, this study identified high prevalence of smoking and passive smoking among military cadets of King Khaled Military Academy. Most of smokers in this study they started smoking at young age even before they joined the academy. More than two thirds of smokers have the desire to quit. The most important motivational factors behind start smoking in the study were friends influence, work stressors and social stressors.
Authors and Affiliations
Muath Fahad HamoudAl Wahbi
Keywords
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- EP ID EP548344
- DOI 10.21276/ijmrp.2017.3.6.001
- Views 82
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