EFFECT OF WARNING LABEL ON CIGARETTE USE AMONG COMMERCIAL DRIVERS IN CALABAR METROPOLIS, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Cigarette smoking has a lot of consequences on driving which may result is accident and subsequent death. Smoking while driving can stimulate the confidence of drivers and make them not realize they are speeding, this may be dangerous. The study examined the effect of warning labels on cigarette use among commercial drivers in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria. Data were obtained through the administration of questionnaire to one hundred and eightythree respondents in four purposively selected motor parks. The Chi Square result revealed that commercial drivers in Calabar Metropolis were aware of cigarette smoking labels, but had different perception toward the messages conveyed (p<0.01). The result revealed that textual cigarette was the most accessible cigarette warning label to commercial drivers. It further implied that cigarette packs, print media/newspapers and billboards were the main sources of awareness of cigarette warning labels. Pearson’s correlation result indicated a low positive and significant association between commercial drivers’ smoking behaviour and their attitude toward cigarette warning labels (r = 0.21, p<0.01). The study also revealed that cigarette warning labels had significant effects on commercial drivers’ intention to quit smoking as a result of its educative and wide range awareness on the risks involved in smoking. The study therefore suggests that commercial drivers should be educated on the relevance of cigarette warning labels and how it can help them to live a healthy driving life.