Factors related to women's knowledge and perception of smoking
Author Information
Author(s): Bhanji Seema, Andrades Marie, Taj Fawad, Khuwaja Ali K
Primary Institution: The Aga Khan University
Hypothesis
What factors influence women's knowledge and perceptions about smoking in urban slums of Karachi, Pakistan?
Conclusion
Women are generally aware of the harmful effects of smoking but lack specific knowledge about its impact on female health issues.
Supporting Evidence
- 84% of women recognized smoking as harmful to women's health.
- Only 7% knew smoking could lead to heart disease.
- 30% of participants had at least one smoker in their household.
- Education was significantly associated with better knowledge of smoking effects.
- 88% of women acknowledged that passive smoking negatively affects children's health.
Takeaway
Most women know smoking is bad, but they don't understand how it can hurt them specifically, like causing infertility or osteoporosis.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews.
Potential Biases
Underreporting of smoking due to social stigma may have affected the results.
Limitations
The study was limited to three clinics in urban slums, which may not represent all women in Pakistan.
Participant Demographics
Majority were older than 25 years, 53% had no formal education, and 74% had a monthly income of up to 5000 Pakistani Rupees.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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