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Factors affecting smoking and related hazards among children aged 6-18 years in Assuit

Research Authors
Hoda Diab Fahmy Ibrahim, Rabaa Hamed Hassanen, Awatef Elsayes Ahmed
Research Department
Research Journal
Ass. Univ. Bull. Environ. Res.
Research Publisher
NULL
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
Vol. (6), No. (1)
Research Website
NULL
Research Year
2003
Research_Pages
1-11
Research Abstract

The aims of this study were to identify factors associated smoking among children aged from 6–18 years and to asses hazards of smoking among children. The study was conducted in Assiut city and 3 villages chosen randomly which were El-masara, El-hammam, and Kom El-mansura. Children and their parents whose agreed to participate in the study were included in the subjects, their number was 120 smokers children and their parents. Data was collected through interviewed children and their parents individually using a developed questionnaire sheet. Anthropometrical measurements were conducted for each child and recorded included weight, height, head circumference, chest and mid arm circumferences. Results of this study indicated that majority of children 92.2% were using cigarette, parental factor was the first one associated smoking among children followed by economical factor, peer pressure, sociological factor and psychological factor. Statistical significant differences were found between duration of smoking , number of smoking per day and the prevalence of respiratory and or physical complaints. The studied children had lower average rates of anthropometrical measurements than the average rates of their same age from the text book, while duration of smoking and number of smoking per day had no effect on children anthropometrical measurements. Nurses play an important role in helping smokers especially children aged from 6-18 years old through intervention of health promotion programs for prevention and cessation of smoking. This study also suggested future researches to determine the magnitude of children smoking problems and its impact on their health and anthropometrical measurements in Assiut.