| dc.description.abstract | This study was about assessing and explaining use of tobacco among primary
school pupils. The major purpose was to determine the level of and factors
associated with initiation and current use of tobacco among primary school
pupils. The overall and long term aim of this study was to contribute to the
Improvement of the health of the pupil of Kenya It was also expected to
contribute information that could be useful in designing preventive strategies
against tobacco use in Kenya particularly on the development of a healthy
lifestyle among the youth. The specific objectives of this study were to
determine the prevalence and distribution of use of tobacco products in relation
to socio-demographic characteristics among primary school pupils in Kitui
Central Division, Kitui District. Secondly to assess the level of exposure to pro
and anti tobacco messages, sources of information, risk awareness, attitudes and
perceived behaviours as related to use of tobacco among primary school pupils
in Kitui Central Division, Kitui District.
The setting for this study was ten primary schools in Kitui Central Division.
The method used for this study was a questionnaire which was administered to
470 primary school pupils aged 13 to 15 years under supervision in the
classroom. An atmosphere of confidentiality was maintained at all times to
enable the pupils to answer freely. Teachers were not allowed into the pupils'
classrooms during the exercise, and the sitting arrangements, as far as possible,
ensured privacy to the participants. Prevalence estimates of lifetime smoking
and use of smokeless tobacco were calculated using frequencies and
percentages. Reasons for tobacco use, knowledge of tobacco related health risks,
sources of information on tobacco health risks and advertising were calculated
using frequencies and percentages and histograms were drawn for them.
Behaviour experienced by smoking pupils, exposure and attitudes towards
tobacco growing were assessed by calculating proportions.
The results obtained from this study were that a total of 14% had experimented
with tobacco, 7% with smoking and 7% with smokeless tobacco. The pupils
reported that their teachers, relatives, fathers, friends, and other pupils in their
school used tobacco.
The reported age of onset was 14 years and younger.
Major reasons for tobacco use was peer pressure followed by lack of parental
guidance, curiosity, free exposure to tobacco, lack of information on tobacco,
advertisements, adventurism, boredom, frustration, pressure from school work
and rebellion. More than 6.Q% of the pupils were aware of tobacco related ill
health. This was because they admitted that tobacco causes social ill health,
diseases and disorders. Tobacco also affects the followlngj personal hygiene,
mental health, pupils' morality, family health, academic performance, unborn
babies and reduces endurance to exercise and physical fitness.
The most prevalent sources of health risk information were teachers (81%),
followed by parents and mass media each (77%), church leaders and
books/magazine or billboards each (72%), grandparents and others. Large
majority had seen or heard a tobacco advertisement (88%).
The pupil's attitude towards behaviours experienced by smoking pupils were
negative. This was because they reported smoking pupils were disobedient to
teachers, did not attend school regularly, did not finish assignment given by
teachers, performed very poor academically, were violent and withdrawn to
other pupils, complaints were brought by parents and community about them
and generally they appeared with bulging red eyes, very shabby and untidy.
Their attitudes towards tobacco regulatory policies were positive. They reported
that smoking was not allowed in schools, pupils were not allowed to smoke,
smoking was not allowed in public places, pupils found smoking in schools
were expelled and cigarettes were not sold to people below 18 years.
Tobacco growing was significantly associated with tobacco use by pupils (59%)
but their intention to grow tobacco in future were negative (10%). As for
tobacco benefits by the growing families, they mostly responded negative. This
was because they reported it affects their pupils negatively, had a lot of money
after sale, had no enough food for their family, did not know the dangers of
tobacco growing, did not have the best crop for their farm and had no enough
firewood from their farm.
In Conclusion the proportion of primary schools pupils use of tobacco was high
(31%) in Kitui Central Division, probably because tobacco was grown in the
area and also due to wide exposure to advertisement from tobacco sales
representatives, who frequently tour the district.
This calls for discouragement of tobacco growing in the division.
Advertising can be removed by banning all forms of tobacco promotion to
young people particularly withdrawal of games and sport support by tobacco
companies.
Pupils are mostly influenced by peers and mass media and receive health related
information from a variety of sources but mostly from the teachers hence this
calls for teachers to be trained in guidance and counseling in order to handle this
crisis. The curriculum developers, Kenya Institute of Education should include
this topic on tobacco use as early as lower classes in primary level of education
and equip the teachers with adequate teaching aids. | |
