Cigarette Smoking Behaviors among Residents of a Semi-Urban Community in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to study the cigarette smoking behavior of individuals living in semi-urban communities in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. The study employed a quantitative research design, with a sample consisting of 276 participants. The primary data collection tool was a smoking behavior questionnaire, which demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.75. Statistical methods were used in data analysis to determine frequency counts, percentage distributions, mean scores, and standard deviations. The majority of the sample were male (80.43%), with an average age of 45.45 years (S.D. = 13.36). Among the participants, 48.92% were employed, and 53.98% identified as smokers. Most smokers reported initiating their smoking habit between the ages of 19 and 21 (24.64%), while the youngest age at which participants began smoking was 12 years or younger (0.36%). The majority of smokers consumed 3 to 5 cigarettes per day (16.30%), and a significant proportion (96.38%) had observed smoking in public places. The study found significant relationships between gender, education level, and occupation with smoking behavior and e-cigarette use (p-value ≤ 0.05). The results indicate that smoking is more prevalent in semi-urban areas. Therefore, government entities, local authorities, and community organizations must play crucial roles in implementing tobacco control measures and preventing the emergence of new smokers in these semi-urban communities.