Effect of passive cigarette smoke inhalation on college students

Sigarette smoking is a major public health threat around the world and of course in Ukraine. More importantly, cigarette smoking has been increased substantially especially in college and university level. The top priority of public health professionals in Ukraine should be how to control cigarette smoking effectively and prevent vast hazards of tobacco use. A questionnaire survey on sigarette smoking was conducted from the above population. A total of 854 students between 18-24 years old, smokers and 540 students of the same age, non-smokers, were included. More smokers were aware of the adverse effects of smoking, but they did not take it seriously because they thought that it was used as token of friendship during social activities. Information about respiratory symptoms and illness, family history of respiratory diseases, smoking habits of house-hold members and housing conditions were obtained by interviews with the students. It was found that students, whose parents smoked from the day they were born, showed wheezing (O.R. 1.23, 95% C.I. 1.04-2.00), shortness of breath (O.R. 1.77, 95% C.I. 1.09-2.01), cough morning and or night ( O.R. 1.44, 95% C.I. 1.00-2.11), asthma ( O.R. 1.44, 95% C.I. 1.04-2.22) and bronchitis (O.R 1.29, 95% C.I 1.05-2.18). Asthma and bronchitis prevalence were lower for non smokers students (O.R. 1.40, 95% C.I 1.02-2.10 and O.R. 1.15, 95% C.I 1.03-2.00). Our data showed that passive smoking in house is considered to be a major risk factor for resp...
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Tobacco, smoking control and health education Source Type: research