This study dealt with the effects of health education on cigarette smoking habits of students, social behaviour and academic achievement. To carry out the research effectively, two (2) research questions and two(2) hypotheses were formulated. The population of the study consist of two hundred (200) senior students of Cross River State. The major instrument for the collection of data was qa questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation, Pearson correlation. The major findings of the study are: (i) Cigarette smoking greatly influences students’ behaviour and their popularity in class and groups which makes them lose their chances of a prudent person. (ii) The Causes and effects of cigarette smoking on students’ social behaviour are not significant, thus their isolation from groups or classes is a result of the constant smoking of hemp. (iii) The students who smoke cigarettes were intrinsically influenced by their fellow students who smoke cigarettes. The result of hypothesis one revealed that there is a negative correlation between students smoking cigarettes and their social behaviour. (v) The result of hypothesis two showed that the Causes and effects of cigarette smoking on student academic achievement are significant. Following these findings, some recommendations and suggestions for further studies were finally made.   

CHAPTER ONE 

INTRODUCTION 

Background of the Study

Cigarette smoking is a significant public health concern worldwide, with numerous adverse effects on individuals’ health and well-being. It is a leading cause of preventable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, and various types of cancer.

Cigarette smoking in recent years has become considerably pleasurable to the addict. Different classes of people use it, it could be wrapped and smoked, it could be soaked into local gin and sold by local gin sellers, which abound in many parts of our society.  It is known by several slang names, including pot, grass, reefer, weed, and Mary Jane. (Iversen, 2008). Iversen also noted that cigarette is a substance that has long been used as medicine and an intoxicant.

Nowlis (1975) observed that cigarette is a substance which affects the structure and function of the organism negatively inducing the organism into states, such as confusion, acute panic reactions, anxiety attacks, fear, a sense of helplessness, and loss of self-control. It was reported in Tide magazine on July 6^th (2008), that, cigarette is among the cheapest class of hard drugs that many secondary school students could purchase and use. A rap of cigarette is sold for N20.00 while a pinch of cocaine or heroin goes for N50.00 and above. The implication of this is that large numbers of Nigerian youths have access to cigarettes.

Akube (1997) explained that cigarettes a products that harm the body of a smoker.  This is a situation where the person inhales the burning fumes produced by the hand-rolled cigarette form or pipes. Some of the observable characteristics of smokers that distinguish them from non-smokers are odours similar to burnt leaves, excessive laughter, unkempt hairs, red eyes, black lips, excessive appetite, yellowish stains on fingertips etc.    Cigarette smoking is widely spread among adolescents, students and young adults. The percentage of middle school students, who are reported to have been using or smoking cicigarettesinincreasedhroughout the early

1990, 1991 and 1992. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2003).  Cigarette smoking is a common phenomenon among students in the College of Education in the area of study. Anumonye(1980) observed that secondary school students who smsmokeigarette initiate themselves by smoking at the age of 11 years, and that a friend‘s home is the most often smoking place, and the observable behaviour these are relaxation and a feeling of well-being, euphoria, enthe hanced sensation of taste, touch, hearing and vision.

Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Lagos State Governor was reported in the Tide Tuesday, July 6^th (2008), urging the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to identify and educate growers and smokers of Indian hemp on its harmful effect on society. Tide (2008) reported that the commander of the national Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Mr Eigege Adamu, in River State, in an address at the ceremony for United Nations Day on Drugs said that cigarettes an illicit drug, caused 80% of violent crime among secondary school students in our society. The extent of Indian hemp abuse among secondary school students has prompted the mass media to organize discussions among officials of mass media on the ills of cigarette smoking.

Non-smokers in this study are therefore referred to as, students who do not indulge in the smoking of cigarettes whether in secret or in public places, and are involved in positive academic activities that will impact positively their lives. Non-smokers are also individuals or students who do not possess the observable characteristics of those who indulge in smoking acts. These are normal students who keep the rules and regulations of the school and obey constituted authorities.

The College of Education, Ilorin, located in Kwara State, Nigeria, is not exempt from the prevalence of smoking among students. Therefore, exploring the effects of health education on cigarette smoking habits among students of this institution is essential for developing effective intervention strategies.

Statement of the Problem

Cigarette smoking by students has been largely associated with various factors and has been addressed from different dimensions by the researcher. Such influence suffices due to changes in the environment and school climate; it also ranges from pleasure-seeking, differing stress, joblessness, parental background and peer pressure.

However, it has been observed that cigarette smoking has a very strong influence on students‘ social behaviour and academic achievement. Students‘ lifestyles remain an important determinant of their behaviour. Cigarette smoking could influence social behaviour and academic achievement of students in school, negative social behaviour like cultism; truancy, drug/alcohol, gangsterism, and examination malpractice have been on the increase recently. Furthermore, the environment, in which one finds oneself, influences him/her. However, the literature review shows that no study has been carried out on the Causes and effects of cigarette smoking, on students’ social behaviour and academic achievement among students  College of Education in Ilorin in Kwara State.

The thrust of this work is therefore to find answers to the following questions ―how does cigarette smoking influence students’ social behaviour as compared to non-smokers and their academic achievement in the College of Education, Ilorin, located in Kwara State?‖

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to find out the effects of health education on the cigarette smoking habits of students at the College of Education, Ilorin, located in Kwara State. Specifically, the study will seek to find out:

 

• The Causes of cigarette smoking on students‘.
• The effects of cigarette smoking on students‘ social behaviour and academic achievement, compared to non their smokers.

 

Significance of the Study

It is hoped that the findings of this study will help to understand the behavioural patterns of students who smoke cigarettes in Ilorin in Kwara State.

It is hoped that teachers will help to identify these students and know how to do placement in the class and equally know where to position these students in a class environment.

The study will be useful for teachers who are directly involved with the students and are aware of the Causes and effects of cigarette smoking on students’ social behaviour and academic achievement in schools and turn help them out.

School administrators and policymakers who are directly involved in formulating policies will create a conducive learning environment for the students and it will also help educational psychologists in the areas of researching and developing theories and techniques in dealing with maladjusted behaviours. Parents will benefit immensely as it will enable them to identify such delinquent behaviours and promptly call for intervention from the appropriate authority. The students will also benefit as they will realize the Causes and effects of cigarette smoking on their social behaviour and academic achievement.

Scope of the Study

The study will focus on students of the College of Education, Ilorin, in Kwara State. The research will employ quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather data on smoking prevalence, factors influencing smoking behaviours, and the effectiveness of health education interventions. However, this study may be subject to certain limitations, including potential self-reporting bias, limited generalizability beyond the study population, and the influence of external factors not directly examined within this research project. The content scope of this study will be delimited to the Causes and effects of cigarette smoking on students‘ social behaviour and academic achievement.

Research Question

To meet the objectives of this study the following research questions have been formulated.

 

• What are the causes of cigarette smoking among students?
• To what extent does cigarette smoking influence students‘ social behaviour and academic achievement, compared to their non-smokers?

Hypotheses

The following null hypothesis will be formulated and tested at, a 0.05 level of significance.

1. Cigarette smoking does not have any significant influence on student social behaviour, compared to non-smokers.
2. Cigarette smoking does not have a significant influence on student academic achievement, compared to non-smokers.