A survey study exploring the knowledge of international students who smoke tobacco about smoking and its impact on reproductive health

Abstract

Background: The consumption of tobacco poses considerable risks to reproductive health, but international students' understanding and views of these impacts are limited. Cultural, social, and educational influences shape their comprehension and conduct. This study aims to explore international students’ knowledge about smoking and its impacts on reproductive health. 

Methods: An exploratory quantitative survey was carried out using an online questionnaire posted on Facebook group recruiting international students in the UK. A convenience sampling method was used to collect data over 4 weeks. 

Results: 31 participants completed the survey. All of them were current smokers aged 22-30 years. The number of male and female respondents were almost equal. Black students (58%) participated more than Asians (41%). Postgraduate students (67%) participated more than undergraduates.  Of those who completed the survey, 45% were 16 years old when they first tried smoking; 80% were daily smokers;12% were occasional smokers; 54% smoked 6-10 cigarettes per day; and 29% smoked 2-5 cigarettes a day. All the participants wanted to quit smoking to improve their health (74%) or to save money (25%).  Also, 67% believed that smoking did not affect fertility in both men and women; and 93% had not received any prior education on smoking’s effects on reproductive health. Of the sample, 87% wanted online resources for getting information and training on this matter. 

Conclusion: This study provides an overview of international students' understanding of smoking's impacts on reproductive health which demonstrates a need to improve understanding, incorporate evidence-based content into the curriculum, host workshops and learning sessions, and start campaigns and public health policies.