The Relationship Between Students’ Knowledge of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Smoking Behavior at SMAN 1 Bangkinang: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between students’ knowledge of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and smoking behavior at SMAN 1 Bangkinang, Kampar Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia. This was a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. The sampling technique used was stratified random sampling, involving a total of 156 respondents. Data were collected using questionnaires measuring knowledge of T2DM and smoking behavior. Data analysis was conducted using univariate and bivariate methods, with the chi-square test applied for bivariate analysis. The findings showed that the majority of students had a high level of knowledge about T2DM (73.1%) and did not smoke (64.7%). A significant association was found between knowledge of T2DM and smoking behavior (p = 0.000), with a Prevalence Odds Ratio (POR) of 15.33. This indicates that students with low knowledge of T2DM were 15.33 times more likely to engage in smoking compared to those with high knowledge. The bivariate analysis confirmed a statistically significant relationship between students’ knowledge of T2DM and their smoking behavior (p-value = 0.000). There is a significant relationship between students’ knowledge of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and smoking behavior at SMAN 1 Bangkinang. Health education on T2DM and the dangers of smoking, along with school-based smoking prevention policies, is recommended as a preventive strategy to reduce smoking behavior among adolescents.