Smoking among rural school adolescents in Malacca, Malaysia: The family and environmental predictors

• Main Authors: Nor Afiah, Mohd Zulkefli, Rahmah, Mohd Amin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: HQ The family. Marriage. Woman; R Medicine (General); RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/4960/1/FH02-FP-15-03728.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/4960/
• Institution: Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the family and environmental predictors contributing to smoking among rural school adolescents. Materials and Methods: This was a case control study using cluster sampling (484 cases and 444 controls) among rural school adolescents in Malacca, Malaysia from May to August 2010. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of smoking which were family and environmental factors. Results: Among the strongest predictors of smoking within family and environmental factors were mother smokes (Adjusted OR=6.24, 95%CI 1.61-24.18), influenced by being offered cigarette by friends (Adjusted OR=4.48, 95% CI 3.04-6.59), has friends who smoked (Adjusted OR=2.56, 95% CI 1.60-4.10), smoking forced by friends (Adjusted OR=2.47, 95% CI 1.39-4.39) and best friend smokes (Adjusted OR = 2.28, 95%CI 1.57-3.32). Conclusions: Family and environmental factors must be taken into consideration in developing smoking behavior intervention programme for rural school adolescents.