EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF SMOKING AMONG TWO POPULATION SUBGROUPS IN ALEXANDRIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO FEMALE TOBACOO USE
Global tobacco epidemic kills nearly six million people each year. Although cigarettes are the most commonly used type of smoked tobacco, waterpipe is gaining popularity worldwide particularly among youngsters. This research was conducted to study epidemiology and behavioral factors associated with tobacco consumption among two population subgroups in Alexandria-Egypt with special emphasis on female tobacco use
METHODS:
A cross sectional design was conducted among 2000 individuals (1000 belonged to each population subgroup; university students' sample and attendees of two clubs and two malls in Alexandria; Egypt). Twenty smoking females were chosen by snow ball technique to hold focus group discussions (FGDs).SPSS version 12 was used for data analysis concerning quantitative part of the research. For quantitative variables, minimun, maximum, mean and standard deviation were calculated.Chi-square test, Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval, ANOVA test, independent sample test, paired test and Z test Mann-Whitney were used.
RESULTS:
Prevalence rate of smoking was found to be 25.9% among attendees of clubs / malls versus 17.1% among university students' sample with much higher rate among males. Prevalence rate of waterpipe consumption was (4.6% for clubs / malls attendees; 1.4% for the university students' group). The most frequent reported causes of initiation of shisha smoking were; curiosity, socialization with friends and stress relief. The proportion of shisha smoking among female smokers was higher than among smoking males. FGDs revealed that waterpipe smoking is growing sharply among females due to the strong belief that it is a fashionable habit, the belief that shisha smoking is less harmful than cigarette consumption and due to its availability in different attractive flavors. "Being dangerous and fatal does not necessitate quitting or abstain" this is one of the misconceptions reported in these focus groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
Smoking is a growing epidemic particularly among females with more spread of waterpipe consumption phenomena.