Cigarette smoking habits among high school boys in a developing country

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the habits, practices, attitudes and knowledge about cigarette smoking among high school boys aged 15-19 years in the United Arab Emirates, and to provide a basis for comparisons with international data. The World Health Organisation questionnaire was used, together with a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling technique; 1,700 subjects aged 15 years and above were randomly selected. A total of 1,486 individuals (87.4%) from among the populations of Al-Ain City, Abu-Dhabi and Dubai Emirates participated in the study. The prevalence of smoking among the studied group was 19%; 28.2% admitted that they had smoked before but had now given up, and the remaining 52.9% denied having ever smoked. Among 18-year-olds (or older) 30.3% smoked. In 70.8% of cases a friend was reported as having been the first source of their cigarette. Fifty-four percent of smokers started between the age of 10 and 15 years. The families of 15.7% of those studied approved of their smoking, while 78.3% did not: 6% did not have an opinion. Nearly two-thirds of the smokers (66.5%) wanted to stop smoking, while the remaining third (33.5%) did not. Differences in parental education (specifically that of the father) were found to have a significant effect on attitudes towards smoking. Contrary to expectations, the highest prevalence of smoking was found among sons of university graduates, and the lowest among sons of illiterate fathers (12.6% and 24.3%, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in respect to family income and smoking. Among the ex-smokers, religion (40%) and health (26%) were important reasons for giving up smoking. Of the smokers, 33% claimed that stress is the most important factor which makes people smoke. The source of the student's information regarding smoking hazards was lowest from doctors (17-19%), and highest from the media (35%). All student groups were equally aware that smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and ischaemic heart diseases, but among the smokers only 28.9% were very concerned about the harmful effects of cigarettes. At the time of their graduation (18 years or older), one-third of the students were already regular smokers, a figure liable to increase as they start university or work.

Prevalence, attitude, and factors associated with risky health habits and behavior of secondary school students, Almajardah, Saudi Arabia

“…Its prevalence rate in this study among Saudi male secondary school students was 22.6%. This figure is comparable with what has been reported in other Saudi Arabian studies (19%-29%), [42][43][44] in the United Arab Emirates (19%), [45] and in Yemen (19.6%). [46] t is much higher than what has been reported in Oman (4.5%).…”

An ecological approach to understanding youth smoking trajectories: problems and prospects

“…Further, most studies ignore differences in ‘taking a puff’ versus ‘smoking a cigarette’ (see LaPrelle et al . 1992 for an exception) and few studies examine quitting (see Bener & Al‐Ketbi 1999 for an exception), so variation in smoking behavior at the initiation and cessation ends of the spectrum is rarely assessed. In short, we suspect that community influences affect current smoking, but we have little idea how they affect initiation, change in frequency/amount, stabilization or quitting.…”

Arab American Adolescent Perceptions and Experiences with Smoking

“…Adolescent (14–18 years) tobacco use varies from 23% to 58% (Al‐faris, 1995; Saeed et al., 1996; Kulwicki & Kepler, 2001). Additional studies revealed a 34.4% smoking rate in Kuwaiti males (15–20 years) (Moody, Memon, Sugathan, El‐gerges, & Al‐Bustan, 1998); 39.9% in 18‐ to 22‐year‐old Iraqi college students (Jamil, Mukhlis, & Saadon, 1989); and 30.3% among 15‐ to 19‐year‐olds in the United Arab Emirates (Bener & Al‐Ketbi, 1999). In three regions of Saudi Arabia, the overall prevalence of current smoking for individuals 15 years and older was 21.1% for males and 0.9% for females (Jarallah, al‐Rubeaan, al‐Nuaim, al‐Ruhaily, & Kalantan, 2000).…”