Effects of Cigarette Smoking Among High School Student in Zambales - Statement of the Problem

Ramon Magsaysay Technological University

Graduate School Department

Iba Campus, Iba, Zambales

Research Problem

Course: MAED E.A.

Student Name: Alvin M. Mandapat

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Professor: Dr. Elizabeth Farin

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Subject: MA 210 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

THE EFFECT OF CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG THE SELECTED STUDENTS IN JESUS F. MAGSAYSAY HIGH SCHOOL (ZNHS-ANNEX) IN THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Introduction

How successful we are in maintaining a healthy life style remains the debate of the day. In his lecture, Prof. Frederick F. Fenech (2004) stated that risk factors are responsible for 70 percent decline in health. Smoking is one of these risk factors. It is an unhealthy non-sexual behavior which when an individual starts it at very young or younger ages, he or she faces gradually increasing problems as he or she undergoes the process of aging. He or she has already done harm to himself or herself causing him or her to face immediate and long-term adverse health and social consequences (Center for Disease Control, 1994; Gruber et al., 1996; World Health Organization, 1997; 1999; Peto and Lopez, 2000; Doll et al., 2004). Choe et al. (2004: 84-85) concluded that ‘… smoking continues to be a traditional health risk for some youth in developing countries and is also emerging as a new health risk for some other youth.’

Smoking among the Filipino youth especially the high school students is one of the non-sexual risk behaviors that still needs to be further understood to be able to update previous findings as well as to come out with more insights which could be tapped in the ongoing ‘healthy life’ advocacy activities. Once smoking becomes a habit, it is very difficult to quit. Human beings do not give up bad habits which they like. Advertising companies all over the world have continuously been improving their cigarette advertisements to lure the youth to smoke and become...