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ORCID ID

Izdihar Kamal: 0009-0005-7800-7629

Nabilah Mohd Abd Wahab: -

Nurul Mawaddah Mohammad: 0009-0001-0701-227X

Rashidi Ahmad: 0000-0002-2293-3077

Muhammad Khalis Abdul Karim: 0000-0003-1614-1572

Hatikahaty Mohd Diah: -

Munirah Ahmad Dahari: 0000-0002-9074-5959

Mohd Faris Abdullah Sani: 0000-0003-2741-3043

Sulayman Muhammad Kabeer: 0009-0009-7538-2916

Nur Biha Mohamed Nafis: 0000-0003-0165-739X

Juliana Mohd Radzi: 0000-0002-5211-9076

Abstract

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among Malaysian adolescents is rising rapidly, raising significant public health concerns. This study assessed awareness, understanding of risk, and e-cigarette use among secondary school students in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, and identified sociodemographic predictors of use.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 323 students from three government secondary schools using a validated questionnaire. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results: Nearly one-third (31.9%, N = 103) reported prior e-cigarette use. Although 63.2% (N = 204) demonstrated good awareness, only 14.6% (N = 47) understood associated health risks. Peers (32.5%, N = 105) and the internet (29.1%, N = 94) were the primary sources of information, while school-based interventions remained largely passive. Male gender (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 7.63, p < 0.001), age 16 (AOR = 4.56, p = 0.002), and having a family member who smoked or vaped (AOR = 3.97, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of use.

Conclusion: Despite good awareness, understanding of risk remained critically low, revealing a gap that current school-based efforts have failed to address. In particular, male, older age, and family smoking exposure were key predictors of use. Overall, targeted health education and stronger regulatory measures are urgently needed to reduce adolescent vaping in Malaysia.

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