Awareness of harmful effects on tobacco smoking among adult male smokers in Sri Lanka: a cross sectional study

Authors

  • Chathurika Udeni Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
  • Ashani N. Ariyadasa Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
  • Anjali N. Sathkoralage Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
  • Imasha T. P. Wimaladasa Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
  • Hiranya N. Fernando Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
  • Lahiru S. Galgamuwa Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
  • Prasanna Herath Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
  • Nishantha Kumarasinghe Faculty of Medicine, General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20205674

Keywords:

Health effect, Sri Lanka, Smoking, Tobacco

Abstract

Background: Smoking of tobacco products is the second major cause of morbidity and mortality in worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the awareness of the harmful effects on tobacco smoking among adult male smokers and their spouses in Sri Lanka.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among adult male smokers in Gampaha district was recruited. An interviewer administered questionnaire inquired participants' awareness about diseases caused by smoking.

Results: Majority of participants (95.3%) were aware of the adverse effects of tobacco consumption on health. A total of 93.4% had knowledge that smoking is harmful to others. Majority of male smokers were aware of adverse effects on respiratory, cardiac and circulatory systems. However, the awareness of the association between impotence, infertility, birth defects and premature births with smoking is low in smokers.

Conclusions: Majority of smokers have sufficient knowledge of harmful effects on health from smoking. Community awareness programs of adverse effects must be held targeting all the population including school children. Anti-smoking campaigns must be initiated in a broad manner, specially targeting the smoking population.

Author Biography

Chathurika Udeni, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka

I am a Lecturere at Department of Parasitology

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Published

2020-12-25

How to Cite

Udeni, C., Ariyadasa, A. N., Sathkoralage, A. N., Wimaladasa, I. T. P., Fernando, H. N., Galgamuwa, L. S., Herath, P., & Kumarasinghe, N. (2020). Awareness of harmful effects on tobacco smoking among adult male smokers in Sri Lanka: a cross sectional study. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 8(1), 31–36. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20205674

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Original Research Articles