The Association between Parental Smoking and Tobacco Consumption among Sample of Al-Nahrain Undergraduate Medical Students

Abstract

Background:    The tobacco epidemic is one of the most significant public health threats the world has ever encountered. Parental influence on siblings smoking initiation is important.
Objective:    To explore the relationship between smoking status of the medical students and their parents, and to explore other associated demographic characteristics.
Methods:    A cross-sectional study was done for the period from March to April 2023 at College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University. Data (480 responses) were collected using a specifically constructed questionnaire that was distributed online to 500 students chosen randomly (100 student/stage) excluding the 6th stage.
Results:    The prevalence of smoking among students was 20.8% while parental smoking was 37.9%. Regression analysis showed odds of 1.6 being smoker if one of the parents is smoker.
Conclusion:    The prevalence of smoking at College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University students is high and the positive influence of parental smoking is of paramount.
Keywords:    College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, medical students, parental smoking, smoking
Citation:    Alogaili MH, Mohammed LK, Khaleel SH. The association between parental smoking and tobacco consumption among sample of Al-Nahrain undergraduate medical students. Iraqi JMS. 2025; 23(2): 348-355. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.23.2.17