TOBACCO USE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE AMONG STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to determine tobacco use knowledge, attitude and practice among students in tertiary institutions in Kogi State, Nigeria. Nine specific objectives with nine corresponding research questions were formulated. Six null hypotheses were postulated which guided the study. Demographic variables of age and gender were also investigated. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population for the study comprised of 31,600 students drawn from the four selected tertiary institutions in Kogi State, while the sample for the study consisted of 395. A-40 item researcher designed questionnaire comprising of four sections (A, B, C and D) was the instrument used for data collection. The instrument was validated by four experts from the Department of Health and Physical Education and one from the Department of Statistics all of the university of Nigeria, Nsukka. Percentages and means using Ashur’s (1977) critension, slightly modified by Okafor (1997) were utilized for answering the research questions bothering on knowledge, while modified 4-points scale by Osuala (2005), were used to answer research questions on attitude. Frequency and percentages were utilized to analyze the responses on practice questions. The t-Test statistics was used to test the null hypotheses one to four at .05 level of significance, while Chi-square statistic was employed to test the null hypotheses five and six at .05 level of significance. Results of the study showed that students in tertiary institutions had very high level of knowledge of tobacco use. Students in tertiary institutions had negative attitude towards tobacco use. Majority of the students in tertiary institutions had practiced tobacco use. Students in tertiary institutions aged 18 years and above had very high level of knowledge while those aged 16-17yrears had high level of knowledge regarding tobacco use. Male and female students in tertiary institutions had negative attitude towards tobacco use. All age groups of students in tertiary institutions had practiced tobacco use. Female and male students in tertiary institutions had practiced tobacco use. There was no significant difference in the level of knowledge possessed by both male and female students in tertiary institutions regarding tobacco use. There was no significant difference in the level of knowledge possessed by both male and female students in tertiary institutions regarding tobacco use according to age. There was no significant difference in tobacco use attitude of the students in tertiary institutions according to gender. There was no significant difference in tobacco use attitude of the students in tertiary institutions according age. There was no significant difference in tobacco use practice of the students in tertiary institutions according to gender. There was no significant difference in tobacco use practice of the students in tertiary institutions according to age. Following from the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made: Education regarding smoking should begin early in the primary school. Parents, teachers and other adults are to supervise and educate the children that smoking is an unfavourable habit which should not be attempted.