Epidemiology of tobacco use in Qatar: Prevalence and its associated factors

Abstract

Tobacco use is a serious public health concern as it causes various deleterious health problems. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and various types of tobacco used among a population-based sample of adults 18 years and above in Qatar (residents and expatriates). The study also attempted to assess tobacco use initiation age, tobacco dependency, and to identify factors associated with current tobacco use. This 2019 cross-sectional study was conducted among governmental employees and University students in Qatar using cluster sampling methodology. Study participants completed a self-administered, country-adapted summarized version of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey. 25.2% (n = 1741; N = 6904) of the surveyed sample reported current tobacco use. 21.5% (n = 1481) smoked tobacco (cigarettes, waterpipe, medwakh and cigar) concomitant with other forms of tobacco and only 1.0% (n = 69) were using other forms of tobacco (electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and heat-not-burn tobacco products) and 2.7% (n = 191) did not mention the type of tobacco products used by them. Of the 1550 tobacco users, 42.8% were cigarette smokers, 20.9% waterpipe, 3.2% medwakh (Arabic traditional pipe) and 0.7% cigar. Moreover, 1.9% reported smokeless tobacco use (sweika), 2.0% electronic cigarette use, and 0.3% heat-not-burn tobacco use. The mean age for smoking initiation was 19.7±5.3 (Qataris 18.6±4.8 and non-Qataris 20.3±5.6). Using multivariable logistic regression, significant association was observed between tobacco use and gender, nationality, age, monthly income, living with a smoker, and self-rated health. This large population-based cross-sectional survey provides the first evidence for the prevalence of different types of tobacco use including medwakh smoking among adults (Qataris and non-Qataris) 18 years and above in Qatar. This can serve as a baseline for future research studies on the topic. Based on the review of previous and current tobacco survey findings, it is evident that the prevalence of tobacco use (current) in Qatar has declined suggesting that tobacco control measures implemented by the country have been effective in reducing tobacco consumption.

Association between waterpipe smoking and obesity: Population-based study in Qatar

“…Interestingly, our sample showed that cigarette smoking is almost twice as prevalent as WP smoking, which is consistent with a recent study on the Qatari population showing that 21% of tobacco users consumed WP, while 43% smoked cigarettes 36 . Nevertheless, the recent trend of tobacco use decline presents a shift towards WP consumption, particularly from occasional or social use to daily and/or individual use 36 .…”

Tobacco smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

“…16 While in Qatar, 21.5% of adults are smokers. 17 The relationship between smoking and development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is well established. However, the exact mechanism is not fully understood.…”

Factors associated with baseline smoking self-efficacy among male Qatari residents enrolled in a quit smoking study

“…Qatar is one of the countries in the region with high smoking rates, currently at 25.2% smoking prevalence among adults. This has led to country -wide efforts to implement strategies to reduce smoking prevalence [ 4 ] that has included nationwide comprehensive policies (e.g., taxation, smoke-free laws) with recent efforts to develop local quitlines to provide individual counseling, given this approach has been highly effective in promoting smoking cessation internationally [ 5 ]. A major component of the effectiveness of the behavioral approaches to smoking behavior change, is the building of client self-efficacy [ 6 – 9 ].…”