SMOKING BEHAVIOUR AND THE IMPACT OF PICTORIAL HEALTH WARNING LABELS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MANJUNG

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Smoking trend among adolescents in Malaysia is alarming and remain a public health concern despite the efforts implemented by the government on the tobacco control. This study was to assess the smoking behaviour, knowledge on smoking health-related risks, as well as evaluating the impact of pictorial warning label on cigarette pack among the secondary school students.

Materials and Methods: 287 secondary school students in Manjung district completed the self-administered questionnaire of which 128 of them were identified as smokers and initiate smoking at the age of 12.

Result: The most reported factor of smoking initiation is ‘trying for fun’ (35.9%) followed by ‘stylish’ and ‘stress reliever’ (28.9% respectively). Most of the smokers have identified ‘Home’ as their favourite place of smoking (41.8%). Nevertheless, most of the smokers found it was not difficult to refrain smoking from forbidden places despite of having their smoking favourite places (p>0.05).  Smokers reported to smoke more after lunch and dinner from which 58.5% of the smokers  significantly found to smoke less when take coffee/tea during lunch whilst 43.1%  smoked without taking coffee/tea during dinner (p<0.05). There were no significant factors found on smoking continuity (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.291, p>0.05).Mean knowledge score on smoking health effects were found significantly higher among the non-smokers in comparison to the smokers (49.67± 32.9 and 44.07 ± 28.43 respectively). There were significant proportion between 1) reaction (read the warning) and 2) perception of warning (warning convey risks) among smokers with good and poor knowledge (p<0.05).

Conclusion: This study suggests that empowerment introduction of graphic warning label have potential to lower smoking intention among adolescent with low knowledge on smoking health effects.

Keywords: Smoking, adolescents, smoking behaviour, pictorial health warning label