SOCIAL FACTOR INFLUENCE IN THE EFFECT OF NO SMOKING CAMPAIGN BY THE MALAYSIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Smoking habits among youth today is an area of concern by all parties. Youth engage in smoking habits comprised of not only males, but also females. Although the local government, along with non-governmental agencies and bodies have carried out and implemented various No Smoking Campaigns, somehow these campaigns are said to have failed to achieve their implementation objectives. Due to this reason, this study is therefore carried out to find out what are the social factors which influence youth to take up smoking habits and to find out the relationship between social influencing factors which influence youths to smoke and the effects of the No Smoking Campaigns by the Ministry of Health Malaysia. A total of 382 respondents, comprising of male and female youths aged between 12 and 21 years of age across the Kuala Lumpur area have been selected to participate in this study. The quantitative approach method using survey is the main instrument of the study. The data generated from the survey forms were analyzed using descriptive statistics approach (frequency, percentage, mean score and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation test). The findings of the study have shown that social influencing factors such as friends (peers), family and one’s self have been identified as one of the main factors which influence youths to smoke and the findings of the study has also shown negative but significant relationships between social peers influence and the effects of the campaign at the cognitive level.