Educational Awareness of Young Generation toward Smoking and Its Health Impacts. A case Study of Mardan, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Smoking remains a critical public health challenge, particularly among youth in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This study assessed the educational awareness of smoking and its health impacts among young people in Mardan district. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 youth aged 15-24 from educational institutions. Data was collected via a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS for descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: While high awareness of major risks like lung cancer (95%) was found, knowledge gaps existed for specific impacts such as infertility (37.5% aware). Key determinants of smoking behavior included peer influence (Odds Ratio, OR=2.01), parental smoking (OR=2.46), and using social media as a primary information source (OR=2.23). Formal education from school curricula showed a protective association against smoking. Conclusion: A significant disconnect exists between general awareness and protective behavior. Interventions must move beyond knowledge dissemination to address social norms and digital influences through integrated, context-specific strategies.