The Health Belief Model developed by Becker ( 1984) cited in Katzenellenbogen et al. ( 1999) guided this study. The model attempts to identify beliefs and the way they may interact to influence individuals' conscious decisions to undertake certain healthrelated actions. "The most important health beliefs that influence actions are thought to be: • The person's perceived vulnerability to a particular condition or illness, • The person' s perceptions of the severity or effects of the condition or illness, • The Person's perception of the efficacy, costs, and benefits of any proposed actions" (Katzenellenbogen, joubert & Karim, 1999: 169). The three points mentioned above guided systematically the whole study as follows: 1. The students' perceived vulnerability to a particular cond ition or illness in this case guided the researcher to describe and to understand students' personal perceptions of the risk of diseases they run by smoking or that they can cause to other people in their surroundings. It was also necessary to find out whether or not non-smokers were aware of the consequences in terms of diseases of being permanently exposed to tobacco smoke. 2. Once smokers as well as non-smokers have agreed that smoking increases the risk of diseases, the following step was to ensure whether or not they continue to neglect and run the same risk. because smoking consequences occur only after a long period of time. 3. The last step was to ensure that students who smoked could actually accept and put into practices some available strategies for giving up smoking. after being sensitised or on their own initiative, in order to remain in good health. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Waterpipe smoking (WPS) is a global epidemic. The prevalence of WPS threatens to surpass cigarette smoking in certain parts of the world. Although current WPS interventions have had some effect in creating awareness of the dangers of WPS, these interventions alone have not succeeded in reducing WPS among university students, despite them knowing the harmful effects of WPS. Since WPS is seen to be a social event, a more holistic perspective of reducing WPS through linking health psychology with social factors encountered such as emphasizing the influences of the collective group and social connections on individual smoking behavior. Thus, social capital is a useful concept, which focuses our attention on an important set of resources inherent in relationships, networks, associations and their norms; all of which have been given insufficient priority in the health literature. The aim of this research was to examine what cognitive and structural bonding social capital factors contributed towards the understanding of WPS behaviors. Thus, this study explored three questions: How has exposure to previous WPS campaigns and/ or interventions influenced participants behavior towards WPS? What was the association between structural factors of WPS and bonding social capital among university students in relation to WPS? What was the association between cognitive factors of WPS and bonding social capital among university students in relation to WPS? A qualitative evaluation using three focus group interviews were used to answer the questions. The study design followed an abductive approach. The data was analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results from the study suggested that even though there have been numerous health interventions to reduce WPS, such as education in schools, posters at the university and TV documentaries, people continue to smoke the waterpipe, despite knowledge of the dangers of WPS smoking. Instead, participants attributed their frequent smoking behavior to groups collectively influencing each other to smoke. Factors of hygiene, homogenous group composition (in terms of race, age and/ or education) and the type of organizational setting (familiar vs. unfamiliar), played a role in the way social relations and interactions influence permeability and mobility of WPS groups, reinforcing structural bonding social capital. Factors of cognitive bonding social capital were also highlighted, where prior contact and gender played a role in setting out conditions of exclusion. Cognitive bonding social capital, along with the structural aspects, is a useful way to understand how these connections may be linked to population health, especially in WPS. Thus, health promoters need to invest more energy into developing programs and policies that take into consideration the social dimensions within the broader context of the university, which social capital may have to offer, contributing to a more critical approach to health psychology when designing interventions and cessation programs.

Submitted in full fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF COMMERCE (Marketing) at the UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND 2015 / With an increase in the concern over the harmful effects of smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes, there has been an increase in the use of a smoking alternative considered to be a healthier option, namely the e-cigarette. Thus, it is of interest to understand certain factors surrounding the novelty, and this research has been conducted in terms of evaluating the predictors of the diffusion of innovations on consumer resistance towards the e-cigarette among South African university students, with the primary purpose being to research a gap in the South African e-cigarette market, and to utilise the results to better understand the overall market. The gap in prior research has been identified as what appears to be a lack of information regarding the South African e-cigarette market, and in particular, the predictors of consumer resistance, including relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability, and perceived risk. The study undertook a quantitative methodology in which 400 students from the University of the Witwatersrand were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 22 and AMOS for structural equation modelling. The results indicate that three of the six hypotheses are supported. Thus, indicating that marketers should focus on applying relative advantage, complexity, and perceived risk to marketing strategies. This study contributes to existing literature and contextual knowledge regarding consumer resistance and the diffusion of innovation. The results further provide marketing practitioners with a better understanding on how to limit consumer resistance and how to improve product diffusion of the e-cigarette, subsequently improving the rate of adoption. However, future research is necessary for corroboration. / MT2017

This study aimed to use the Transtheoretical Model of behaviour change (Prochaska and DiClemente, 1983) to investigate the process of smoking initiation in a cross-section of high school adolescents in urban KwaZulu-Natal. This aim was informed by the increase in incidence of smoking among adolescents, who represent a particularly vulnerable population to smoking (Orlandi and Dalton, 1998). The Transtheoretical Model has proved successful in changing problem health behaviours (prochaska and DiClemente, 1983) and lends itself to be a suitable framework for investigating smoking acquisition in adolescents (Werch and DiClemente, 1994). An extensive review of the causes and correlates of smoking uptake and past intervention evaluations suggests that the core constructs of the TTM (Decisional Balance, Temptation and Stage of Acquisition) can be complemented by other another variable, Perceived Social Norms (informed by the Theory of Planned Behaviour, Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975, as cited in Pitts, 1996), to provide a more holistic explanation of smoking acquisition. Alcohol use, parental smoking and certain demographic factors are also found to be salient factors in this process. Findings showed that the perceived cons of smoking were constant across stages and seemed to have no effect on stage membership. Stage differences were explained almost entirely in terms of pros, which increased drastically with later stages. Perceived social norms increased with a later stage, confirming a tentative theoretical relationship between the Transtheoretical Model and Theory of Planned Behaviour. Lack of expressed intention to smoke by participants questions the validity of using the rational decision-making Transtheoretical Model to investigate a process not informed by decision-making. European language speakers were found to be a particularly vulnerable group to smoking, while African language speaking girls show very low rates of smoking. High religiosity was found to be a protective factor, while alcohol use was strongly associated with smoking. Maternal smoking was strongly associated with smoking, but only in girls. No difference in stage was found between schools and grades. The study should be replicated using a longitudinal design to determine the causal relationship between factors and smoking and to further investigate the applicability of the Transtheoretical Model in smoking acquisition. / Thesis (M.A.)- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004

Master of Public Health - MPH / The incidence of Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies born in the Uitenhage Provincial Hospital would seem to be a cause of concern from a public health of view. The incidence of 21% recorded during 1999 is markedly higher than the 7% recorded in the United States of America in 1998 and the average of 17% noted for developing countries. Some health concerns related to LBW babies are Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, scholastic performances later in life, and several chronic diseases in adults associated with them having been born as LBW babies. / South Africa

Birthweight is powerful predictor of infant growth and survival. Premature birth and intrauterine growth retardation of birthweight. Maternal environment is important underlying determinant of birthweight. Common lifestyle risk factors include maternal under-nutrition, smoking, alcohol and social factors and stress. The Winelands/West Coast region has high rates of low birthweight. In addition, alcohol abuse and smoking are major problems in this area. The aim of this quantitative case-control study was to determine the epidemiology of low birthweight, related to lifestyle behaviours in pregnant women, with particular attention to lifestyle factors such as alcohol, smoking, and stress-related factors.

Birthweight is powerful predictor of infant growth and survival. Premature birth and intrauterine growth retardation of birthweight. Maternal environment is important underlying determinant of birthweight. Common lifestyle risk factors include maternal under-nutrition, smoking, alcohol and social factors and stress. The Winelands/West Coast region has high rates of low birthweight. In addition, alcohol abuse and smoking are major problems in this area. The aim of this quantitative case-control study was to determine the epidemiology of low birthweight, related to lifestyle behaviours in pregnant women, with particular attention to lifestyle factors such as alcohol, smoking, and stress-related factors. / Master of Public Health - MPH

Birthweight is powerful predictor of infant growth and survival. Premature birth and intrauterine growth retardation of birthweight. Maternal environment is important underlying determinant of birthweight. Common lifestyle risk factors include maternal under-nutrition, smoking, alcohol and social factors and stress. The Winelands/West Coast region has high rates of low birthweight. In addition, alcohol abuse and smoking are major problems in this area. The aim of this quantitative case-control study was to determine the epidemiology of low birthweight, related to lifestyle behaviours in pregnant women, with particular attention to lifestyle factors such as alcohol, smoking, and stress-related factors.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Background: Globally, cigarette smoking is causing preventable deaths in developing countries affecting especially the youth. Historically, cigarette smoking is known to be more common among adults but is also becoming common among students. Purpose: The study aimed to investigate factors contributing to cigarette smoking and its health consequences amongst students of the University of Venda in South Africa. Methodology: A quantitative approach using a descriptive cross- sectional design was adopted. Convenience sampling was used to randomly select 428 respondents. A self-reporting questionnaire with closed ended questions was administered to respondents between the ages of 17-40 years who suited the inclusion criteria. Permission to conduct the research was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the University of Venda. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 and presented in the form of tables and charts. Pearson’s chi squares were used to test significant relationships between variables and smoking status. Results: A total of 407 students participated in the study. Of the 407, 208 (51%) of respondents were female students. The mean age of the study population was 24 years. Of these 407, 175(43%) reported being smokers 232 (57%) were nonsmokers. More smokers were observed among the male respondents and registered for first and second years. There was a significant relationship between age, gender, religion, school of affiliation, amount of pocket money and smoking status (P-value=0.05).The results showed that the majority of the respondents285 (70%) agreed to the belief that students smoked cigarettes due to availability of cigarettes at every corner of the campus, 281 (79%) peer influenced by friends 289 (71%) family members who smoke, and 313 (76.8%)increase social interaction. The majority of the students were knowledgeable about health consequences caused by smoking. Nonsmoking students were more knowledgeable about harmful effects of smoking as compared to smokers (P=0.00. Conclusion: The study concludes that students smokes cigarettes due to being a friend with someone who smokes, being in new a environment, stress, depression, observation of other students smoking, no signage prohibiting smoking and lack of knowledge regarding health / NRF