Smoking Frequency and some Related Factors among High School Students of Kashan City, Iran

Aims The dramatic increase of smoking in adolescents has become one of the majorchallenges in most countries and it needs further consideration. The aim of this study wasto determine the smoking prevalence and some related factors among high school students.Instrument & Methods This descriptive, cross-sectional study was done in 2012-13academic year in male and female high school students of Kashan City, Iran and 328 studentswere selected by multi-stage random cluster sampling method. Data were collected by aresearcher-made questionnaire which had three parts; demographic data, history of smokingin the family, and ways of smoking. Data analysis was done using Chi-square and ANOVA tests.Findings 19.3% (52 students) of the high school students of Kashan City, Iran, were smokers;41 boys (20.2%) and 11 girls (8.8%). Smoking had significant relations with sex, grade andhaving a smoker in the family. 30.3% of the students had a cigarette smoker and 32.40% hada hookah smoker in their family. Hookah was the most prevalent tobacco product. Friends(47.8% in boys and 10.4% in girls) and then relatives (13.4% in boys and 8.2% in girls)contributed to students’ smoking.Conclusion Smoking hookah and cigarette have a high prevalence in sophomore and juniorhigh school boys and having a smoker family member or friend is a main risk factor of startsmoking in adolescents.

Keywords:

Prevalence , Smoking , Students , Risk Factors , Iran