The Study of Factors Influencing Smoking among Male University Students in Kermanshah

Due to the rapid growth of smoking prevalence and due to the necessity of knowing the problem, in order to sensitize the community and the health officials, the present study aimed to determine factors influencing smoking among male university students in kermanshah based on BASNEF Model. In this cross-sectional study 569 students studying in Kermanshah in 1387 were selected through snowball sampling procedure. The data was collected through a valid and reliable researcher- made questionnaire consisting of 70 questions in 5 sections of demographic, awareness, attitude, enabling and norms. Using SPSS, the data was analyzed through chi-square and one-way ANOVA. In this study, the mean scores for awareness and attitude about smoking among students were respectively 89±7/1 and 72/7±6/2. There was no significant relationship between numbers of cigarettes smoked and the university kind or educational levels of students. The most frequent enabling factor for smoking was easy access to cigarette and the most influencing social norm in smoking was student’s close friends. Calmness (38/3%) was the most frequent belief about smoking among the target population, and lack of suitable pastimes and curiosity were the most important reasons to try smoking for the first time. In this study, having smoking friends as the most obvious factor for inclination toward smoking demonstrates the role of peer group pressure among young people. The second outstanding factor among abstract social norms was smoking parents. University instructors and TV film stars were other factors which influenced students’ intention to smoke.