Awareness and Response of Smokers to Anti Smoking Campains on Cigarrette Packs: A Study of Commercial Bus Drivers in South East Nigeria

Abstract

Smoking has been identified as a health risk, a pattern of behavior usually acquired during adolescence. It is a growing public health problem in the developing world and also an important global challenge for public health policy makers worldwide, tobacco use is widespread and efforts to combat smoking and its health hazards are being scaled up. Based on this, the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria came up with health warning which adorn every cigarette pack sold in Nigeria to campaign against cigarette smoking. Specifically, the study sought to ascertain if the commercial bus drivers who smoke in South East Nigeria are aware of the anti-smoking campaign message on the cigarette pack also to ascertain if these smokers are exposed to the campaign message on the cigarette pack and as well how they respond to it. The study was built on Health Belief Model (HBM) and Uses and Gratification theory. The research design of the study was based on triangulation: the survey which is predicted on the use of questionnaire, the in-depth interview approach and observation. Statistical result indicates a weak relationship between the target audience and the level of awareness and response to the anti-smoking campaign on cigarette packs. The study concludes that other media of communication like the Television, Newspaper, Posters and Mobile Telephones be included in the campaign process since the respondents make use of these other media.

Keywords: Awareness, Responsiveness, Scare Message, Cigarrete smoking