Strengthening of tobacco control strategies focusing on school students must be implementedin Thailand. The important determinants including personal factors, socioeconomic statusand accessibility to tobacco are needed to be closely monitored and intervened. The influenceof smoking by family members, teachers and peers must be seriously taken into account.Parents, family members and teachers should be aware of the effects of their smoking.Tendency toward smoking were found in youth with family conflict, family financial stress,lack of communication and supervision from parents. Smoking was also present amongstudents with poor academic achievement and students in vocational school. Tobacco controlmeasures should be implemented targeting these vulnerable groups.For measures related to tobacco accessibility, although the regulation banning smoking atschool exists, compliance and effectiveness of the measures have never been evaluated.Communities and schools should be informed to strictly enforce the regulation. Legislationsuch as prohibition of cigarette sale to youth aged <18 years should also be re-enforced.It is a crucial time for tobacco control advocates and government to work together to preventfurther initiation of youth smoking. The prevention program should start early, such as,provide teaching curriculum starting in kindergarten schools; school children will have betterunderstanding and awareness of the dangers of smoking at an early age. The most effectiveprevention should involve the family, the school, and the community working togethertowards building a healthier new generation who are Thailand’s most important treasure.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
