KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF: IMPLICATION FOR SMOKING PATTERN AMONG FIRSTHAND SMOKERS IN CALABAR AND UYO SOUTH, NIGERIA

Abstract

Smoking has remained a popular behavior among humans even in the 21 st century despite the several legitimate warnings against the practice. The study seeks to find out the relationship the between knowledge, belief and smoking pattern among firsthand smokers in Calabar and Uyo Metropolis, South, South, Nigeria. To achieve this, the study adopts the descriptive survey design with the snowballing sampling technique to secure data through questionnaire from the 376 respondents which constitutes its sample. The study found no significant relationship between knowledge and smoking pattern, but a significant relationship between belief and smoking pattern. In addition, the study found that Arizona is the most smoked substance in the study area. Hence, it is recommended that the production and circulation of smoked substances particularly the outlawed ones should be diligently checked with due sincerity by Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency and its affiliates. Also, campaign against smoking should be targeted towards convincing the populace about the health dangers of smoking rather than just informing them.