Shisha-smoking; popularity and familiarity among university students of Jamshoro and Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Worldwide, annual rate of 4.9 million deaths have been reported due to the tobacco abuse and this rate might rise to 10 million in the next 20-30 years. Seventy percent of these deaths take place in developing countries. To determine the prevalence and knowledge of shisha-smoking among the university students of Jamshoro and Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan. A Questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2013 to August 2014. A convenient sampling of 400 participants was done from three universities at Jamshoro and one at Hyderabad i.e., Liaquat University of Medical and Health Science [LUMHS], University of Sindh and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology [MUET] Jamshoro and Isra University, Hyderabad. Undergraduate male students, age ranging between 18-23 years, were included whereas females, postgraduate students and house officers were excluded. Data were analyzed using SPSS [Statistical Package for the Social Sciences] version 16. Ninety-two percent students were aware of shishasmoking whereas 8% had no knowledge. Thirty-six percent have ever smoked shisha while 64% of students never smoked it. Of the smoking students, 45% mentioned smoking shisha rarely, 25% of students smoked sometimes, 13% smoked always, 6% smoked it often and 10% smoked just once. Most of the students [92%] knew the hazards associated with shisha smoking. According to 48% participants, shisha-smoking is far more dangerous than cigarette -smoking. Prevalence of shisha-smoking in the educated youth is high; however, only half were aware of its harmful effects