Smoking behavior among Bangladeshi young adults: Insights from a smoking survey of university students in Dhaka city

Abstract

Background: Smoking has become an important public health issue in recent years, but little is known about how smokers position themselves and regulate their behavior in this context. Objective: The study was aimed to investigate the trends of cigarette smoking & the concomitant perception of young adults towards it. Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was carried out at renowned 5 universities of Dhaka city. Around 250 students filled-out the questionnaires based on cigarette smoking and were evaluated in between July, 2015 to December, 2015. Results: This survey has been shown that most of the smokers are male and the number of female smoker is also increasing. We also learnt different kinds of people’s perception regarding smoking. Moreover, we identified that although maximum participants knew that smoking can cause cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, they continued smoking. From the survey we have come to understand that, day by day the number of smokers has been increasing rapidly. To quit smoking is quite impossible to the young smokers. Conclusion: Our awareness can show them a light of life. For this, we need to come forward and help them to quit smoking. Media advertising, campaigning, social awareness, education etc. can help us to prevent smoking.