Tobacco Use and Its Associated Factors among Undergraduate Public Health Students in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Abstract

Background. Despite the crucial role of public health students in tobacco control, there is a paucity of information regarding tobacco use among this population in Nepal. This study aims to assess the prevalence of tobacco use among undergraduate public health students in Kathmandu valley, Nepal. Methods. A web-based survey was conducted among 386 undergraduate public health students in Kathmandu valley, Nepal, using the Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS) questionnaire. Associated factors were examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses at the level of significance of 0.05. Results. A total of 16.8% of students were current cigarette smokers, 39.9% had ever smoked cigarettes, and 62.2% had smoked their first cigarettes during adolescence. Among the participants, 11.7% currently used other tobacco products. Male students (aOR: 15.4; 95% CI: 4.9–47.8), students with higher age (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.0–5.4), students belonging to non-Brahmin/Chhetri ethnic group (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2–4.4), and those staying without family (aOR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1–5.0) had higher odds of being current smoker. Similarly, students with a parental history of tobacco use (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.3–5.0) and friends with smoking habits (aOR: 7.9; 95% CI: 2.3–27.0) were more likely to be a current smoker. Conclusion. There is a notable prevalence of tobacco use among public health students in Kathmandu valley, Nepal. Concerned stakeholders should work jointly to implement a cessation program to discourage tobacco use among these populations who have a potential role in educating communities about the hazards of tobacco smoking, tobacco use prevention, and control.