Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Influence of Associated Factors among Students of the University of Banja Luka: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Cigarette smoking among the youth population has increased significantly in developing countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, no extant literature assesses the prevalence of tobacco use, nor identifies factors associated with smoking. This study determined the prevalence of cigarette smoking among a specific cohort of students and assessed factors related to tobacco use in this population. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1200 students at all faculties of Banja Luka University. Data were collected from questionnaires adapted from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) and the Global Health Professional Student Survey (GHPSS) standardized questionnaires and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s χ2 test, and logistic regression. Results: When the prevalence of cigarette smoking within the last thirty days was recorded, we found that 34.1% of students smoked within this period. Nearly three-quarters (74.9%) of the student population had smoked or experimented with cigarette smoking. However, medical students were 27.2% less likely to smoke than their counterparts from other faculties. Overall, 87% of all students were aware of the harmful effects of cigarette smoking, 79% were aware of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, and 65% reported that it was difficult to quit. Increased spending of personal money was associated with a higher probability of smoking, while exposure to secondhand smoke increased the odds of smoking by 62%. Conclusion: Policies, strategies, and action plans should be introduced in order to reduce the prevalence of smoking among university students and to create a smoke-free environment at the various universities involved.

Prevalence of smoking and its associated factors among students of the University of Dongola, Northern State, Sudan: a cross-sectional study

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Public Health Burden of Secondhand Smoking: Case Reports of Lung Cancer and a Literature Review

“…Partial bans did not significantly impact the prevalence of smoking [ 49 ]. Worldwide, tobacco-use prevention measures remain focused mainly on adolescents and young people [ 50 ]. Targeted efforts among the socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are needed too [ 22 ].…”

Tobacco and alcohol co‐use: Lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, and personality aspects as potential predictors in the “Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra” cohort

“…In addition, increased environmental exposure to tobacco or harmful alcohol use (i.e., socialization and social experiences in public spaces such as college campuses, workplaces, restaurants, bars, etc.) increases the risk of tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption (Hennessy et al, 2019; Ibrahim et al, 2022; Stafylis et al, 2018; Todorović et al, 2022). Furthermore, the inability to effectively regulate oneself is also associated with harmful alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking (Robson et al, 2020).…”