The Prevalence of Smoking Among Karbala/Iraq University Students in Iraq in 2005

BACKGROUND Tobacco use is considered one of the largest public health threats facing the world. The estimated number of current smokers in the world exceeds 1.3 billion, which means that one third of the world's population above 15 years are smokers. Smoking prevalence is increasing in the developing world but monitoring of this trend is poor in these countries. Studies on smoking in Iraq are scarce, with the current smoking prevalence rate reported to be 15-25% for males and 1-10% for females in surveys conducted in the past ten years. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to find the prevalence of smoking among Karbala University students in Iraq and determine its associations with participants' demographic and other related predictors, including other substance use behaviors, to help inform and develop future prevention and control programs. MATERIAL AND METHODS A categorical random sample included 2298 students at Karbala University in Iraq who answered a self-completed questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the Drug Abuse Program questionnaire and was piloted before implementation. Descriptive and analytic statistical tools (SPSS-20) were used to assess significant associations at P < 0.001 to compensate for multiple comparisons. RESULTS The prevalence of current smoking among Karbala University students was 10.5%, shisha smoking 4.4% and previous smoking (having ceased smoking for more than 30 days) 1.0%. Approximately half of the smokers surveyed (45.7%) started smoking before the age of 18. Smoking was positively related to male gender, increasing age, being unmarried, college, drinking alcohol, having a positive attitude toward smoking and higher fathers' educational level. CONCLUSION Lifetime smoking prevalence was found to be approximately two out of ten students. Significant positive association was found between smoking and other substance use behaviours. Additionally it was associated with positive attitudes toward substance use. Significant predictors were determined. Further studies are needed to explore the prevalence of smoking among Iraqi youths to find trends and help to guide the implementation scientifically based control and prevention programs.