The Effect of Tobacco Smoking on the Health and Academic Achievement among Secondary School Male Students in Njikoka Municipal

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the effect of tobacco smoking on the health and academic achievement among secondary school male students in Njikoka Municipal. The study was guided by four research questions and it adopted a descriptive survey research design. The sample involved 36 male teachers selected through purposive sample technique and 364 male students selected through simple random sampling techniques from the population of 1879 (male teachers and students) from government owned senior secondary schools in Njikoka Municipal, Anambra State. A 50-item questionnaire developed by the researcher and validated by experts was used to collect data for the study and reliability index of 0.82 was realized using Pearson product movement correlation coefficient. Data obtained were analyzed and reported using mean and standard deviation. The findings indicated among others that tobacco smoking has a lot of health consequences to the smokers ranging from cardiovascular, oral cancers, bladder cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and others. Furthermore, its effect to student’s academic achievement is not limited to memory deficit. Therefore, it was concluded that tobacco smoking endangered the health of secondary school male student that indulged in it. Also, tobacco use effectsschool performance negatively. Certainly, if the observed consequences are not checkmate promptly, then the future life wire of the society is in danger with its consequences. Thus, Tobacco use kills about one-half of all lifetime users. Based on the findings, government at all levelsshould treat tobacco use among secondary school male students as a priority issue. Social environment of the secondary school male student should be monitored by parents and responsible authorities. It is also necessary for the government and academic institution to adopt a comprehensive smoking-control interventions and health education among this target group. Academic institution is encouraged to provide smoke-free college residences. With this stemming out tobacco smoking among the youth is guaranty in the contemporary society.