Since smoking is recognized as one of the most significant health hazards, researchers have directed a lot of energy in combating this health hazard, in particular in the prevention of children taking up smoking. Health education has been advocated as the most effective preventive approach to this problem, however, the findings from this approach are equivocal. This article 1) reviews the literature regarding factors associated with children's initiation into smoking, and 2) examines the efficacy of health education programs in preventing smoking in children. It is concluded that while health education programs using peer leaders as health educators have been reasonably successful at reducing smoking rate and onset, parent-implemented health prevention programs aiming at children at younger age, may be more effective in reducing the rate and onset of smoking in children.
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