Factors related to smoking behavior among youths in Thasala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional survey research was to study smoking behavior and its related factors among youths in Thasala  District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.  A sample of  253 the youths  from two secondary schools, was  purposively selected.  Data collection  was done during November to December  2018. The self-administered questionnaire includes general information, smoking behavior, attitude toward  smoking, perceived tobacco industrial advertisement, and perceived the law on smoke-free in public area. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were employed for data analysis. Results revealed that smoking behavior of the youths was as follows.  49.0% of the students  had ever try on smoking and 14.2% of them were current smokers. Of the current smokers, 5.6% were daily smokers, 41.7% smoke after meals, 52.8% smoke at friend’s home and 22.2% bought cigarette from a nearby grocery store. Factors related to smoking behavior were gender,  education level,  living near tobacco industrial area, having close friend smokers,  having family member smokers, and perceived the law on smoke-free in public area at  p < .05.