Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Smoking is an important public health issue in Turkey. This study set out to investigate the smoking prevalence among first and fourth grade university students as well as the associated socio-demographic variables.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey was carried out by the International Children’s Centre (ICC) in the faculties of Science and Literature, Education and Medicine of nine Turkish Universities to determine the knowledge and life styles of the 1st and 4thgrade university students in adolescence (2009). A total of 5.221 students were evaluated. Data were analysed using SPPS 16.0-9907290 statistical package program.

RESULTS: The first grade students with illiterate mothers (23.0%), those who were living alone at home (37.7%) and those who considered receiving inadequate pocket money (24.9%) had a higher level of smoking prevalence (p<0.05). The fourth grade students with illiterate mothers (34.9%), those who were living with their friends (34.0%), those who perceived their economic situation bad (37.7%) and those who considered receiving inadequate pocket money (36.3%) had a higher level of smoking prevalence (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: A relationship between smoking habits of university students and some socio-demographic characteristics was found. We believe that more priority should be given to health promotion interventions among university students, especially among those of low socioeconomic status. On the other hand, in order to monitor the efficacy of smoking-related interventions among young people, there is a need for early detection of young individuals who are at risk and urgent interventions should be carried out.