Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of preliminary school students toward smoking in Baghdad

Background: Early smoking is considered as a major challenge for health promoters, as well as it is socially not acceptable, thus interventions must tackle childhood starts of smoking. The aim of this paper is assessing the knowledge and attitude of preliminary students towards tobacco use. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among 2915 (Fifth grade) students from 30 preliminary schools in Baghdad [15 from each side (Karkh & Rusafa)] during November 2014. Researchers used a multistage sampling technique to select the study sample. Results: Joined students age ranged between 10-13 years and 51.9% of them were females. 54.3% of their parents were nonsmoker while the rest reported that both or one of them are smokers. Out of total participants 82.4% and 66.2% knew about direct and indirect risks of cigarette smoking respectively. Seventy per cent of students' families warn their kids from smoking hazards, while more than 50% of them have received health education massages from their teachers. Eighty-six per cent of the participants did not like sitting near smokers. Smoking is considered religiously inconvenient by 51.4% and 34.6% considered it a sign of no self-confidence. At last 73.7% of the surveyed students agreed with smoking prohibition in public places while 25.8% opposed that. Conclusion: Despite the high percentage of students' parents were smokers, risks of smoking are well-known by the surveyed students who showed positive attitudes toward smoking prohibition in public places. Parental advising for quit smoking and urging teachers to educate their students about smoking hazards might be the right action.