Prevalence and Associated factors of Inclination towards cigarette Smokingamong Students in Gerash University of medical science.

Background: The period of studying at the university, with its specific Characteristics. Studentsas educated people are good models of non-smoking people for those who are close to them. Thepurpose of this study was to assess the prevalence rate of cigarette smoking in gerash Universitystudents and its related factors.Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on ۱۶۷ students of Gerash University of medicalscience, Iran in ۲۰۲۰. Data gathering was done by using an online questionnaire includedquestions about demographic features and associated factors of Inclination towards in cigarettesmoking. The relationship between consuming of cigarette smoking and a number of factors wereanalyzed statistically.Results: Mean age of students was ۲۲.۲±۲.۱ years. From all, ۶۳% were men and ۹۸% were single.In whole, ۱۴ students (۸.۳%) were current smokers (۱۲.۳% of men and ۱.۶% of women). Mean ageof smoking onset was ۱۷.۹±۴.۵ years. Among the affecting factors on cigarette smoking, smokingby close friends and Smoker roommates (OR=۳.۳), alcohol consumption (OR=۳.۱), and male sex(OR=۲.۸) showed the highest relationships with cigarette smoking.Other major factors for smoking use were having stress, being far from family and entertainment(OR=۲.۷).Conclusions: The cigarette smoking by students is a multi-factor and multi-level phenomenon,and the major factors for their determining exist at multiple levels of individual, social and family,which should be considered for intervention, prevention, and control of cigarette. Although theprevalence of smoking experience was low compared to other universities, it is necessary todevelop effective strategies for smoking prevention and cessation.