PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF TOBACCO PACKAGE WARNINGS ON THE SMOKING BEHAVIOR OF YOUTHS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Tobacco use is a major global health issue, especially among Nigerian youths, with Lagos State experiencing rising rates of tobacco use, posing a public health concern. This study examines how tobacco package warnings influence youths’ smoking behavior in Lagos, Nigeria. Methodology: This survey tested three hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05: H01, no relationship between tobacco warnings and youth smoking in Lagos; H02: Warnings do not influence youth attitudes; H03: No effect on perceptions. The study was guided by Health Belief Model and Theory of Psychological Reactance, and involved youths aged 15-35 (smokers and non-smokers). Data from 400 respondents, sampled via Yamane’s formula from three LGAs—Alimosho, Ikeja, and Ajeromi—were collected through questionnaires. Results: PPMC analysis showed a 0.436 correlation between tobacco warning messages and youth smoking. The chi-square (χ² = 13.586, df = 24, p = 0.955) reveals that warnings influence youth attitudes. A second test (χ² = 4.440, df = 12, p = 0.974) confirmed that warnings significantly affect smoking perceptions. Conclusion: Tobacco package warnings are associated with youth smoking behavior in Lagos State. They influence attitudes, likely encouraging negative views, increasing awareness of risks, and potentially deterring initiation. It suggests strengthening TPWs by integrating them into wider public health campaigns to prevent smoking among youth and encourage quitting