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. Objectives: To determine the prevalence
and knowledge of shisha-smoking among the university students of Jamshoro and Hyderabad
Sindh, Pakistan. Methodology: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: Prevalence of shisha-smoking in the educated youth is high; however,
only half were aware of its harmful effects.