FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PREVALENCE OF CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY, AKUNGBA-AKOKO, ONDO STATE

The study investigated the factors influencing the prevalence of cigarette smoking among undergraduate students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. An extensive review of related literature was carried out under the following sub-headings; Peer Pressure, Ignorance, Availability of substance, Mass media among others to facilitate the identification of relevance procedures and strategies as well as the construction of instrument used in this study. Generated research questions and hypotheses revolved around the independent variables of factors influencing the prevalence of cigarette smoking. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study while population comprised all the undergraduate students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State from which 210 respondents were selected randomly as sample. Self-constructed questionnaire approved by the researcher’s supervisor was used for data collection. With the help of a trained research assistant, the researcher went to each selected faculty to administer the instrument which was done in-situ. Retrieved questionnaire were screened and coded into frequency tables, while simple percentage and Chi square (X2) statistics were used for data analysis. All the four null hypotheses were not accepted for the study at alpha level 0.05 and degree of freedom of 12. Based on the data analysis, the following findings were reached; Peer pressure, Ignorance, availability of substance, and Mass media are significant factors influencing the prevalence of cigarette smoking among undergraduate students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. Consequent upon the findings, the following recommendations were made among others; The management in partnership of the department of Human kinetics and Health education should organized seminars across faculties and at departmental level where information on dangers and risks associated with cigarettes smoking can be disseminated.