Sources of Information and Students' Use of Tobacco in Secondary Schools in Calabar Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria

This study assessed information sources as per the use of tobacco among secondary school students in the area of study. Two specific objectives were of interest to the researchers. In accomplishing the objectives, the study adopted the survey research design. The population of the study comprised 6,361 students from 77 public secondary schools in the study area.  Two sampling techniques (stratified and proportionate simple random sampling) were used in selecting a sample of 620 respondents from 25 secondary schools in the area. The instrument used to gather relevant information for the study was a questionnaire. The instrument was analysed for reliability using the Cronbach Alpha method, with an acceptable internal consistency index of .864.Two research questions were structured and answered using percentage. The result of the analysis indicated that the health warning, written on the packet of cigarette, significantly influenced students' use of tobacco. Advertorial channels through which students access information on cigarette smoking significantly influenced students' use of tobacco. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that sources or channels through which students access information on cigarette smoking significantly influenced their use of tobacco. The study recommended that the government should encourage the health warning written on the packet of cigarette. Again, the Government should ban advertorial channels through which students’ access information on cigarette smoking.