Government Policies and Tobacco Use among Adolescent in Secondary School in Calabar Education Zone in Cross River State, Nigeria (Published)
The main purpose of the study was to determine Government Policies and tobacco use among adolescent in secondary schools in Calabar Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of this study two research questions were used to guide the study survey research design was adopted for the study. Sample of 320 respondents were selected for the study. The selection was done through the stratified and Accidental sampling techniques. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The reliability estimate of the instrument was established through the split half reliability method. Simple percentage was employed to analyzed the data generated. The result of the study revealed that ban on direct sales of tobacco (cigarette) to minors and open advertisement of tobacco products significantly influenced adolescent use of tobacco among secondary school student in Calabar education zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. Vigorous public awareness campaign should be pursued by government to ban direct sale of cigarette to minors in secondary school. Government should endeavour to ban open advertisement through which student access information on cigarette smoking and also increase the tax of Cigarette Company’s by making strict legislation to enforce direct contact of cigarette sale to secondary school students.
Keywords: Government Policies, secondary school student., tobacco