Pollution Research Paper


Vol. 35, Issue 1, 2016

Page Number: 15-21

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE: OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTH EDUCATION

EVELYN N. NWAGU AND ERIC K. N. NWAGU

Abstract

We studied undergraduate studentsÂ’ attitude to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) in two government owned universities in Enugu State of Nigeria using the descriptive survey research design. A four-point Likerttype questionnaire was used to collect data on studentsÂ’ attitude to ETS. Data were analyzed using mean, t-test and Analysis of Variance. Results showed that the students did not support smoking in public places, they agreed that second hand smoke negatively affects health and they supported prevention of second hand smoke. Non smokers favored smoke free environment more than smokers. Students from the federal university had higher positive mean attitude scores than those from the state university. There were no significant differences at p <.05 in the studentsÂ’ attitude to ETS when classified according to gender. The institutions of higher learning are fertile grounds for preventive health education on the control of not just smoking but also second hand smoke.