TEACHERS' KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICE TOWARD SMOKING AT PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN DUHOK CITY, KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ

ABSTRACT Background: Smoking has serious negative effects on health, mental state, and society. It remains a major public health concern, especially among adolescents and young adults, and there is a risk of increased usage among these age groups. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 3005 primary and secondary school teachers in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, participated in a survey on smoking attitudes and knowledge between December 2023 and February 2024, via a self-administered Kurdish-language questionnaire, adapted from the Global Health Professional Survey by the World Health Organization. Results: 16.2% of the surveyed individuals were current smokers, with a significant male predominance (28% compared to 1% of females; p < 0.001). The most prevalent form of smoking was cigarettes (80.7%) and the main cause of starting smoking was peer pressure (63.5%). Notably, 44.5% of smokers acknowledged smoking on school premises, although 97.2% are aware of the health hazards associated with smoking, and that it is prohibited in public areas (95.3%). Conclusions: The high smoking rate among teachers in this study emphasizes the need for public health initiatives and policy enforcement to strengthen tobacco control measures, particularly in schools. Teachers influence pupils, therefore, tailored smoking cessation programs for educators are needed to lower smoking rates and foster a healthy atmosphere in the educational system.