الخلاصة

Abstract Background: Smoking is related to many diseases, and the relapse to smoking after cessation in Iraq is noticeable. We examined the attitudes of Iraqi male smokers regarding smoking cessation and reasons for relapse. Objective: The aim of this study is to asses the ability of Iraqi male smokers to stop smoking and factors that lead to relapse after cessation. Method: We interviewed 200 male smokers in Babylon town, Najaf town, Iraq who had tried to quit smoking at least once in order to identify reasons for quitting and situations triggering relapse. Results: The most significant reported reasons for quitting included personal health (37.5%), the advice and example from other (22.5%), and family pressures to quit (12.5%). The most common factors triggering relapse were social situations (27.5%), feeling negative or down (17.5%) and times of being alone (10.0%). Conclusion: Health and family concerns, personal factors, the influence of others and a lack of cessation resources were cited as salient factors concerning smoking cessation among male smokers in this study. Effective smoking control efforts in Iraq will require attention to these influences if Iraq is to curb its current smoking epidemic.