Smoking Prevalence and Parameters among University Students, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Yasser Altowyan, Mohammed Altwayan, Yosef Altowayan, Fahad Alfahied and Khalid Altwayan

Background: According to WHO, tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced with 21% of the global population aged 15 and above smoked tobacco. Which killing around 6 million people a year. More than 5 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while more than 600 000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

Objectives: The study aimed to find the Onset, Prevalence, Type, and Frequency of smoking. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from December 2013 - May 2014. The target population was students of male gender studying in Majmaah University. A total of 325 students aged between 19-25 years were randomly chosen from different Colleges of ALMajmaah University.

Results: Seventy two students (22.2%) were smokers, 74 (22.8%) were second hand smokers. Remaining 253 (55%) were non smokers. 41 of smokers (56.9%) were smoking cigarettes. 25 (34.7%) were smoking water pipe, and 6 (8.3%) were smoking both types. Most cigarette smokers were smoking one pack per day (25) students and (15) students were smoking water pipe once daily. Majority of smokers were smokers since 2-4 years (45.8%) and (40.3%) were smoking from five years or more.

Conclusion: High smoking rate in Majmaah university students indicate that more researches need to find out causes of smoking. Intervention and awareness programme should be conducted to reduce prevalence of Smoking.

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