Prevalence and pattern of smoking in university students - perspective from Islamabad

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional survey based on sample of convenience was conducted in university students of Islamabad, from January 15th to June 30th 2001. With 95% confidence level and assuming a hypothetical difference between two population proportions of smoking at 5% in students, with an absolute precision of 5%, on either side of proportion, 5 sample size of 216 for each gender group was calculated. Four hundred and seventy students 249 female and 221 male were selected by convenience sampling and interviewed. Most students, 380 [80.9%], were enrolled in the masters program, 192 [77.1%] females and 188 [85.1%] males, while the rest were either M.Phil or doctoral students. Cumulatively, 72 [15.3%] reported ever having smoked cigarettes, 11 [4.4%] females and 61 [27.6%] males. While 59 [12.6%] students, 9 females and 50 males were currently smoking cigarettes every day. These 59 students were asked further questions regarding their pattern and use of smoking cigarettes and their beliefs about its effects on their health