Exploring the Socio-Demographic and Behavioural Characteristics Associated With the Smoking Behaviour of Young Adult Smokers in Tema Metropolis

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the socio-demographic characteristics associated with young adult smokers in the Tema Metropolitan Assembly. The study employed qualitative research approach through descriptive and exploratory means and employed questionnaires and semi-structured interviews as the main instruments for data collection. A total of 50 young adult who double as smokers formed the study population in the Tema Municipal Assembly. The study reveals that, socio demographic characteristics like age, gender, marital status, place of residence, presence of relations, neighbors and friends who are smokers influences the development of smoking habit amount young adult in the Tema vicinity. Again, the study reveals that young adult smokers develop some form of behaviors like fighting, financial indiscipline, disrespectfulness, arrogance, authoritativeness, hatred, insensitivity, womanizing, and stealing after beginning to smoke. Following on this, the study recommends that, the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and the Government of Ghana (GoG) as well as managers of the city of Tema should develop strategies and programmes that will seek to sensitize young adult smokers on the negative consequences of smoking.