Epidemiological study on smoking habit among females in Baghdad city-1991

ABSTRACT

A questionnaire of 4816 females from different areas of Baghdad City on smoking habit showed that the prevalence rate of smoking habit among females [PR-SHAF] was 13.3%. The PR-SHAF increased as age progressed. 0.3L of females started smoking at the age of 9 years, the percentage of female smokers continued to increase till the age of 24 years [29.5%] then declined to reach 6.9% after the age of 40 years. High PR-SHAF were found among widows [45.42] in comparison to divorcedo [42.4%] or married women [14.3%] or singles [5.4%]. The PR-SHAF decreased as the level of education among females increased. House wives showed a high PR of smoking habit [22.7%] followed by clerical women [18.5%] teachers [18%] then students [6.8%]. The most prevalent cause for smoking was the presence of smoking habit in the family [25.3%] and psychological problems [21.9%]. Several causes prevented females from stopping smoking such as inability to stop smoking [20.1%]. feeling she is addict to smoking [19.6%] and the presence of problems [17.4%]. The study recommends to consider the results in the anti-smoking program which is usually designed by the public health planners