A systematic review to explore the level of knowledge regarding the effects of tobacco smoking among young people

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names & surname here], declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion and take on the topic and is does not represent the opinion of the University.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

CHAPTER # 1: INTRODUCTION5

Background of the Study5

Problem Statement7

Purpose of the Study8

Research Question8

Significance of the Study9

CHAPTER # 2: LITERATURE REVIEW11

Introduction11

Demographic Characteristics and Youth Smoking11

Psychosocial factors and smoking across gender and ethnicity12

Tobacco marketing and adolescent smoking15

Tobacco Use among Youth: Contributory Factors16

School Activities and Youth Smoking17

Family and Friends Smoking Status and Youth Smoking18

Intra-individual Psychological Factors and Youth Smoking20

Youth Development and Adolescence: Why Analyze By Age?21

Prevention efforts for youth24

Summary26

REFERENCES28

CHAPTER # 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Tobacco use has been described as the most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the world today. Smoking directly affects the health and well-being of all members of the smoker's household, and its economic and social costs are borne indirectly by the whole population. An estimated 71 percent of the world's tobacco consumption is in low income countries. By 2020, 70 percent of the 10 million deaths expected to result from tobacco use will be in developing countries. While low income countries still struggle with communicable diseases, the burden of tobacco induced disease has already begun to take its toll (Chilcoat, 2009, 1347-1354).

As witnessed in high income countries with high smoking rates, smoking-attributable chronic illnesses, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPO), are exceedingly expensive to care for. The epidemic of smoking-attributable morbidity and mortality is thus one of the principal public health issues threatening low income countries in coming decades. If the trend continues unabated, the associated costs are likely to further widen the disparity between low income and high income countries, the poor and the rich.

For economic reasons, tobacco control programs in low income countries generally focus on the prevention of smoking initiation, with less emphasis on the management of current smokers, since nicotine dependence impedes the impact of interventions among these individuals (Adams, Melvin, 2008, 212-219). Where tobacco control measures have been implemented, they have proven effective at reducing rates of smoking initiation and prevalence, as well as individual consumption levels. Low income country tobacco control efforts however, are encumbered with enormous obstacles such as lack of finances, infrastructure, political commitment, personnel and - often - research capacity. In particular, there has been a paucity of action-oriented research to guide local interventions, with the result that, to date, smoking behaviours in low income countries are poorly understood, and programs may not be as effective as is possible (White, et al., 2009, 393-397). Prevention programs and attendant media messages benefit from a rich understanding of the ...