Smoking prevalence and associated factors among university students: Smoking-Related family behaviors, knowledge, attitudes and socioeconomic status

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and examine the differences in smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among university students in Morocco. A questionnaire was administered randomly to a representative sample of 810 students. The age range of the participants was 18 and 38 years and the mean age was 21 years. Participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires about sociodemographic characteristics, smoking-related family and university environments, smoking-related knowledge and attitudes, and smoking behaviors. A total of 800 students (98.77%) completed and returned the questionnaire. The prevalence of tobacco consumption was 17%. Smoking prevalence was higher for males and those aged between 18 and 20 25 years. Specialty and education were significantly associated with cigarette smoking behavior. The high prevalence of smoking among the student’s means that prevention measures are essential; this requires increasing self-esteem and evaluating intervention programs implemented before smoking the first cigarette.