Smoking Habits and Associated Factors Among College Students in Basra

Abstract

Worldwide, smoking is a major contributor to enhanced morbidity and mortality. In addition to its social and economic consequences, student smoking has a detrimental influence on the health of young pupils. Aim: The current study intends to ascertain the frequency of smoking behaviors among college students and identify associations between these behaviors and their presence. Methods: College students in Basra University, Iraq, were the primary participants in this cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) served as the primary source for the self-administered questionnaire. The study involved about 400 pupils. Findings: Of the respondents, 49.9% were men and 50.1% were women; nevertheless, only men smoke (all female participants do not smoke). Approximately 25% of the participants smoke; 60% of them started smoking before turning 18. About 50% of students who smoke use water pipes (sheesha) either by themselves or in combination with other forms of smoking. Approximately 75% of students who smoke have knowledge of the risk that smoking poses to their health and plan to quit, mostly because of these health issues. Conclusions: Among college students at universities, smoking is comparatively common, and water-pipe smoking is particularly frequent. Increased efforts are required to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and to provide resources for quitting.