Knowledge and perception of waterpipe harm among university students in five Eastern Mediterranean countries: a cross sectional study
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1
Birzeit University, Jordan
2
Hacettepe University, Turkey
3
Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
4
Ain Shams University, Egypt
5
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
6
Dubai Medical College, United Arab Emirates
7
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
8
University of Florida, United States of America
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A814
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ABSTRACT
Background:
Waterpipe tobacco
smoking (WTS) prevalence in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is among the
highest in the world and it is increasing with time. This paper aims to
investigate waterpipe harm believes among university students who smoke
waterpipe in five EMR countries.
Methods:
This study was conducted in 2016
across five EMR countries: Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Oman, and the United Arab
Emirates (UAE). Participants were recruited from among young adult students
(18-29 years) at selected universities in each country. Data were collected
using an Internet-based survey. Participants were included if they were
waterpipe tobacco smokers and at least 18 years of age (including users of
cigarettes, WTS, and dual users).
Results:
In most countries, participants (70%-80%)
had initiated WTS with a friend or several friends with the exception of Palestinians
where 31% started smoking with family members and Egyptians where 22% started
smoking alone. More than 70% of the participants from Oman, UAE and Egypt
started smoking in a café; or restaurants while around 50% of the participants
from Jordan and Palestine started smoking at home or someone else's home. Sixty
percent had smoked waterpipe and 44.5% had smoked cigarettes in the past 30
days. Most participants from the five countries were aware that WTS can cause
harm during pregnancy. Around 30% of participants had misperceptions about
waterpipe as a cause of cancer or death. Participants from Egypt seemed to have
the least knowledge about WTS harm. Those who smoked cigarettes in the past 30
days had generally good knowledge about WTS harms compared to waterpipe
smokers.
Conclusions:
Misperception of
waterpipe harm is common among university students in the five EMR countries.
Culturally adapted awareness champagnes targeting young adults including
university students are needed in all countries