CIGARETTE USE AND ITS PREDICTING FACTORS AMONG MALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Tobacco use among adolescents is one of the most important preventable
problems that was known as a gateway drug to the use of other much more dangerous substances as
Marijuana and opium. Etiology of tobacco use initiation would be an important part of preventative
programs. The purpose of this study was to determine tobacco use status among male high school
students and also the predicting factors for tobacco use.
Materials & Methods: A total of 900 male high school students were randomly selected for sampling.
Participants were junior high school students in Malayer, Iran. The data were gathered via
questionnaires. The pupils completed questionnaires by self-reporting method.
Results: Approximately 126 participants (14%) reported lifelong-smoking. The average age range to
start smoking was 9-12. Parent-teen violence, truancy, leisure, peer pressure were the most important
factors that led to smoking.
Conclusion: Behaviors are acquirable, trainable, and modifiable. For preventative programs, it is
necessary to identify adolescents’ smoking risk factors and to focus on adolescents’ health problems.