Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Tütün Kullanım Prevalansı ve İlişkili Risk Faktörleri: Trabzon, Türkiye

Abstract

Background: MPOWER strategies are employed to combat tobacco use in Turkey. However, no decrease in the prevalence of use among university students has been achieved. In research conducted among university students, only smoking was generally questioned. The purpose of the present research is to evaluate the prevalence of tobacco product use and associated risk factors among university students in Trabzon, northeast of Turkey, following the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 6445 students between December 2021 and June 2022. Data analysis was performed with chi-square test and logistic regression test backward method. Results: The prevalence of tobacco use is 26.9% in university students in Trabzon. The most frequently consumed tobacco product was cigarettes (25.0%), followed by hand-rolled cigarettes (6.5%), waterpipes (5.0%), and e-cigarettes (1.0%). Students’ tobacco use was statistically significantly associated with male gender, attending a vocational school, maternal tobacco use, paternal tobacco use, and romantic partner/close friend tobacco use. Conclusion: The prevalence found is higher than in many previous studies. Priority should be given to women as well as men in intervention programs to fight against tobacco. Programs should begin in vocational school and include students' close friends, romantic partners, or parents