Gender Differences in Cigarette Smoking Habits of Secondary School Students in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Daisy I. Dimkpa PhD, Lydia A. Wilcox PhD

Abstract
This study employed the descriptive survey in investigating Gender Differences in cigarette smoking habits of 105 randomly selected senior secondary school students (S.S.S. 3) from six schools in Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State of Nigeria. Four research questions were formulated and analyzed using descriptive statistics. A researcher-made instrument titled ‘Cigarette Smoking Habit Questionnaire’ (CSHQ), with a reliability value of 0.69 was used in generating data for the study. Results of the study indicated that the prevalence level of cigarette smoking among the respondents was low (1-4 sticks) per day, with male respondents indulging in the habit more than the females. It further showed that majority of the respondents, 79(75.4%) were influenced by their peers; and 54(51.4%) were influenced by their parents and guardians. Finally, majority of the respondents, 90(83.7%) did not agree that their cigarette smoking habits had a traditional undertone. The recommendations made were that counsellors should organize seminars for parents and students on the dangers inherent in smoking cigarettes. Parents should also be encouraged through group counselling technique to be good role models. Others include introducing a ‘non-smokers’ club to campaign against cigarette smoking, as well as teaching the students cessation techniques.

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