| Summary: | This study evaluated the perceptions of
Nigerian university students concerning the
influence of cigarette advertisement on their
smoking habit. It also assessed the influences
of smokers’ age and significant others on their
smoking habits. Data were collected using
structured questionnaires and focus group
discussion (FGD) technique from 566 smokers
(503 males and 63 females) selected from
among students of six universities in south-
western Nigeria. Information obtained from the
FGD was analysed qualitatively and presented
in this study. Specifically, responses from the
FGD was analysed based on the following:
History of student’s smoking habit, perceived
smoking benefits, health hazards of smoking,
advertisement and smoking, roles of families,
friends and peers in preventing or promoting
smoking habit and attitudes of smokers towards
anti-smoking regulations in the country. The
study concluded that cigarette advertisement
had substantial influence on smoking habit
among students in the Nigerian universities.
Implications of the findings for designing
smoking intervention programmes targeted at
the youth are discussed.
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