Tobacco use among adolesent population in Iraq prevalence and associated risk factors

INTRODUCTION:  the use of any form of tobacco by 13–18 year old individuals is 10%.  Greater than other vulnerable age groups.  In addition, almost one in four students (13-18 years old) who ever smoked cigarettes smoked their first cigarette before the age of 10objectives: this study is aimed to study the prevalence of  smoking among Iraqi adolescent population, determinants and proposing some interventional strategies

METHODS:  Cross sectional analytical study carried out on 1750 participants selected randomly from preparatory and secondary schools in Baghdad by multistage stratified random sample through self administered structured questionnaire

RESULTS:  

the study reveled that  20.8% of Iraqi adolescent population are tobacco users, cigarette smoking is the main tobacco use practice in Iraq 13.9% followed by Shisha(4.8%) and  Pipe (1.4%) , the stepwise logistic regression, showed that  as the main predictors  factors  affecting  smoking were Age Odds ratio (2.85), sex(2.31),Parents smoking(1.97),close friends(4.65) and illiterate education of parents (2.02 Age , (2.88,2.31,1.97,1.86,2.67,8.18,), according to the type of tobacco use  the study showed that  the highest consumption  rate was for  Cigarettes (95 % CI = 8.94-12.22) Shisha (9 5 % CI = 9-10.8) Pipe (9 5 % CI = 6.48-8.76) Cigar (95 % CI = 2.88-4.42) Bidi (95 % CI = 0.74-2.66) Smokeless (9 % CI = 0.87-3.17) Conclusion:   adolescent population are at high risk of tobacco use practice, many determinants  have significant impact on tobacco use. practice , attitude and believe  are the  best potentials where  an effective interventional strategies can be applied accordingly.

CONCLUSIONS:   Tobbaco use among Iraq adolesents  is high, many factors are significantly  associated with.