Cigarette and waterpipe smoking among adolescents in Estonia: HBSC survey results, 1994–2006

Abstract

BackgroundSmoking is a major single cause of preventable morbidity and premature mortality. Tobacco use among adolescents is a significant public health problem as smoking behaviour is undeniably established in adolescence. While cigarette smoking among adolescents has been a significant public health problem for years, waterpipe smoking is considered to be a new global public health threat. The objectives of this study were to describe trends of cigarette smoking and the prevalence of waterpipe smoking and to study the association between cigarette and waterpipe smoking among adolescents in Estonia.MethodsThis study was based on a four-yearly HBSC survey of health behaviour among school-aged children conducted in 1994–2006 in Estonia. It was a school-based survey of a nationally representative sample using standardized methodology. The target group of the survey were 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old schoolchildren (N = 13826), 6656 boys and 7170 girls. Cigarette and waterpipe smoking was determined on a 4-stage scale: every day, at least once a week, less than once a week, not smoking. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine gender- and age-specific smoking trends and to study the association between cigarette and waterpipe smoking.ResultsPrevalence of smoking was higher among boys than girls in all age groups during the whole study period. The prevalence of cigarette smoking increased in 1994–2002 and then slightly decreased in both genders. The increase in smoking was larger among girls. Among girls, daily smoking increased during the whole study period. Among 15-year-old schoolchildren one-third of the boys and one quarter of the girls were cigarette smokers, 21% of the boys and 12% of the girls were daily smokers in 2006. One fourth of the boys and one sixth of the girls were waterpipe smokers. A logistic regression analysis revealed a strong association between cigarette and waterpipe smoking among schoolchildren.ConclusionThe results of this study can significantly enhance the capacity to develop and implement tobacco prevention and control programmes among the youth in Estonia.

Wasserpfeifenkonsum (Shisha-Rauchen) bei Jugendlichen in Deutschland

“…Der Befund aus KiGGS, dass Jungen häufiger Wasserpfeife rauchen als Mädchen, wird zumindest mit Blick auf die Lebenszeit-und 12-Monats-Prävalenz durch die BZgA-Daten gestützt. Einige internationale Studien sprechen ebenfalls für eine stärkere Verbreitung des Wasserpfeifenkonsums bei Jungen [10,14,43]. Andere Untersuchungen zeigen wiederum keine signifikanten Geschlechterunterschiede [9,15,44,45].…”

“…Andere Untersuchungen zeigen wiederum keine signifikanten Geschlechterunterschiede [9,15,44,45]. Das Ergebnis, dass mit zunehmendem Alter bei Jugendlichen auch die Prävalenzen des Wasserpfeifenkonsums ansteigen, stimmt mit den Befunden internationaler Untersuchungen überein [9,43].…”

“…der zufolge das Wasserpfeifenrauchen den Einstieg in das Zigarettenrauchen bei Jugendlichen begünstigt [6,43,[52][53][54]. Möglicherweise spielt auch der Gruppendruck beim Rauchen von Wasserpfeifen eine noch stärkere Rolle als beim Zigarettenrauchen, da das Wasserpfeifenrauchen als Gemeinschaftserlebnis, bei dem häufig ein einzelner Schlauch geteilt und weitergereicht wird, stärker ritualisiert ist [1,55].…”

Effect of shisha vs. cigarette smoking on endothelial function by brachial artery duplex ultrasonography: an observational study

“…Waterpipe smoking has become an epidemic throughout the world as it is also spreading rapidly in Europe and the US (3), especially among college and university students (6)(7)(8)(9). Approximately 3.3% of the Egyptian population are current shisha smokers (6.2% of men and 0.3% of women) (10).…”

Water Pipe Tobacco Smoking among Females: A Middle Eastern or a Global Epidemic?

“…The fact that 11.9% of the female university students were WTS compared to 17.9% among males from a recent United Kingdom study of six universities is disturbing [13]. Moreover, a prevalence of WTS reaching 25% and 16% among 11-15 year old school male and female students, respectively in Estonia is worrying [14]. With the success of tobacco control efforts that mainly targeted cigarette smoking and the increase of evidence on the health effects of WTS [15], immediate action should be taken to curb the WTS epidemic globally and from Arab countries in particular.…”