THE EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG ALDOLESCENT YOUTHS

ABSTRACT

Tobacco is a plant with very high addictive chemical nicotine that is harvested, try and process in various form resulting in products such as cigarette.

   Tobacco use is very common among adolescent youths with the most common form being Cigarette. Despite the fact that tobacco is very harmful for health, the prevalence of current smokers in the World, Africa and Cameroon among adolescent youths is still very high especially in males than in females. Cigarette Smoking remains one of the most important cause of disease and premature deaths in the World and a leading cause of cancer and many related health diseases.

 This seminar is to draw a brief overview of cigarettes Smoking among adolescent youths and provide information and education regarding tobacco use and its Effects on the development of Fertility problems, cancers, respiratory Problems, cardiovascular problems and even risk of type 2 diabetes.

SECTION ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1Background

Smoking is known to be a prominent public health problem which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality rate but could totally be abolished by preventive measures (Al-Mohamed and Amin, 2010). According to WHO,(2020), tobacco kills more than 8 million people per year including both smokers and non smokers who experience second-hand smoke and more than 7 million of those deaths are results of direct tobacco use while 1.2 million are as a result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke and about 25% of the world’s population smoke. Cigarette smoking leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body and causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic health conditions. The impact also extends beyond the smoker. For example, smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth (being born too early) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Secondhand smoke also causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of SIDS, impaired lung function, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, and more frequent and severe asthma attacks(CDC,2021). Youths turn to smoke more than adults and older people( Fulmer,2015).

Tobacco was first introduced into Africa in the 16^th century by European traders which was also grown as a trade crop for European consumption. In the mid 20^th century, as the health effects of tobacco became well known, the production and consumption of tobacco decreased through a combination of laws and lower demand in high income countries (HICS) and tobacco is derived from the leaves of a plant with the genus nicotine a plant from the night shade family (Shanu and Mishra,2013). According to Ngahane et al.,(2015) about 12% of youths (12.8% boys, 10% girls smoke cigarette in Africa including Cameroon, some are exposed to second hand smoking while 29% are exposed to cigarette smoke at home. 80% of adults in Cameroon use tobacco products and rates are higher in men than women. That is 13.9% for men and 4.3% of women smoke and among youths (ages 13-15years)10% use tobacco products.

 Since there is no tobacco control legislation in Cameroon the prevalence of smoking is low and it has been shown that children who start smoking when they are still small are more likely to smoke as adults in the future than those who begin smoking at an older age. (Ngahane et al.,2015). According to (Mapa-Tassou et al.,2018) tobacco is used in Cameroon in all forms including sniffing, chewing and especially cigarette smoking. The ministry of public health noted a  higher percentage (37%) of people who are exposed to second hand smoking in Cameroon. WHO encourages countries to reduce by 25% the probability of dying from non-communicable diseases by 2025 and cessation of tobacco use is one of the main ways to achieve this and also encourages youths who are already smoking to quit and those who have not started smoking not to smoke by creating awareness on the effects of cigarette smoking (Mapa-Tassou et al.,2018).

   1.2Rational

The rational of the seminar is to find out the effects of cigarette smoking among youths and to awake the public against ignorance of the dangers of cigarette smoking.

 1.3 Goal

The goal of this seminar is to create awareness on the effects of cigarettes smoking among adolescent youth.

1.4 General Objective

The general objective is to discuss the effects of cigarette smoking among youths

1.5 Specific Objectives

1) To identify the health complications or effects of cigarette smoking among youths.

2) To find out reasons why youths smoke.