Prevalence and determinants of smoking status among university students: Artvin Çoruh University sample

Scrutinizing Socio-Economic Determinants of Adolescent Tobacco Uptake in Türkiye: An Empirical Overview

The prevalence of tobacco use among young individuals is a significant public health concern. This study investigated the socioeconomic factors that contribute to smoking behavior among Turkish adolescents using a Zero-Inflated Ordered Probit model. We gathered smoking prevalence data (38,182 people, aged 11-18) from Türkiye from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey organized by the World Health Organization. The results show that adolescents exhibit lower rates of smoking, and parental employment acts as a deterrent to adolescent smoking. There is a higher probability that young individuals who frequently smoke and have mothers with a higher level of education will quit smoking. In addition, the results indicate that for individuals who are smokers or non-smokers, advertisements on several platforms, such as social media, increase the probability of initiating tobacco usage. Moreover, as age and gender play a significant role in influencing smoking habits, income has a paradoxical relationship with more frequent smoking. This study demonstrated the complex relationships between economic, educational, and environmental factors and adolescent smoking. This study recommends implementing focused and varied public health interventions in Türkiye to address youth smoking, considering socioeconomic factors and family dynamics.

The Prevalence and Determinants of Waterpipe and Cigarette Smoking Among Medical Sciences Students Living in Dormitories in Southern Iran

Background and Aims

Tobacco use among students is one of the most alarming problems throughout the world. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of cigarette and waterpipe smoking as well as their determinants among students in dormitories of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 293 students living in the dormitories of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences using random sampling method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used, which included demographic characteristics and patterns of cigarette and waterpipe smoking. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors related to cigarette and waterpipe smoking.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 20.99 ± 1.74 years and 49.8% of them were male. The mean age at the initiation of cigarette and waterpipe smoking was 15.53 ± 4.33 and 16.60 ± 3.01 years, respectively. The prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 6.48% and that of waterpipe smoking was 8.53%. In addition, 10.24% and 17.06% of the participants reported ever use of cigarette and waterpipe smoking, respectively. Moreover, the prevalence of tobacco smoking was higher in male students than in females (8.22% vs. 4.76% for cigarette smokers and 11% vs. 6.12% for waterpipe smokers). The results showed that there was a significant relationship between having cigarette-smoker family members and having cigarette-smoker friends with cigarette smoking. Also, waterpipe smoking was associated with having cigarette-smoker family members and having waterpipe smoker friends (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Tobacco use is relatively high among medical students. Since the family and social factors are related to cigarette and waterpipe smoking, the family and society should be informed about the dangers of cigarettes and waterpipe smoking. It is also emphasized that students with risk factors be identified.

Low lung function in Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: a hidden risk

Introduction: People with serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, have a higher risk of premature morbidity and mortality. In the general population, impaired lung function is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We compared lung function between people with and without serious mental illnesses using a cross-sectional study in 9 community mental health units. Methods: Subjects aged 40-70 years with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder were recruited consecutively. The controls had no psychiatric diagnosis and were not receiving any psychotropics. Spirometry was performed by a trained nurse. We used the 2021 American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society standards for the interpretation of the spirometry results. Results: We studied 287 subjects. People with SMI (n = 169) had lower spirometry values than those without a psychiatric diagnosis (n = 118). An abnormal spirometry pattern (36.1% vs 16.9%, p < 0.001), possible restriction or non-specific (Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry [PRISm]) pattern (17.8% vs 7.6%, p = 0.014), and pattern of airflow obstruction or possible mixed disorder (18.3% vs 9.3%, p = 0.033) were more frequent in people with SMI. Multivariate analyses showed that the PRISm pattern was associated with abdominal circumference (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.08) and that the pattern of airflow obstruction or possible mixed disorder was associated with smoking behavior (OR 5.15, 95%CI 2.06-15.7). Conclusion: People with SMI have impaired lung function, with up to one-third of them showing an abnormal spirometry pattern. This suggests that regular monitoring of lung function and addressing modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco use and obesity, in this population is of paramount importance.

Status and correlates of children's exposure to secondhand smoke at home: A survey in Chongqing, China

INTRODUCTION

The home is the primary source of children's exposure to secondhand smoke. This study investigated the status and influencing factors of child exposure to secondhand smoke at home when people smoke in the household.

METHODS

Participants with at least one child living in their household from 10 communities in Chongqing were recruited and provided a self-administered questionnaire using a multistage proportional random sampling design from June to August 2021. The chi-squared test and binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify influencing factors.

RESULTS

The questionnaire completed by 1345 families showed that 631 (46.9%) families lived with smokers in their household, and 509 (80.7%) of those families reported that smoking occurred within the home while the children were present. Binary logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the time between waking up and household smokers having the first cigarette of the day (OR=0.44; 95% CI: 0.22-0.85), changes to smoking habits and behaviors within the last six months (OR=1.76; 95% CI: 1.06-2.90), attitudes towards tobacco control in the household (OR=2.91; 95% CI: 1.72-4.92), self-efficacy in maintaining a smoke-free home (OR=2.27; 95% CI: 1.36-3.79), having rules to maintain a smoke-free home (OR=3.25; 95% CI: 1.68-6.29), and the status of providing cigarettes to guests at home (OR=11.0; 95% CI: 1.33-90.8) were associated with exposure to SHS.

CONCLUSIONS

Education focusing on the impact of smoking on children's health should be encouraged. Smoke-free homes should be established, and smoking restrictions in the household should be enacted. Therefore, information about the available tobacco-control services should be given to family members and be used properly. It is an effective way to decrease the risk of at-home exposure to SHS for children, to overcome any obstacles in tobacco control.

Tobacco and electronic cigarette smoking among in-school adolescents in Vietnam between 2013 and 2019: prevalence and associated factors

BACKGROUND

Smoking among adolescents in schools is a major global public health concern. There is limited evidence regarding prevalence and associated factors in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the prevalence of smoking and associated factors among in-school adolescents aged 13-17 years in Vietnam between 2013 and 2019.

METHODS

Data were collected from two rounds of the national representative Vietnam Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in 2013 (n = 3,331) and 2019 (n = 7,690). Logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with tobacco and electronic cigarette smoking among in-school adolescents.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction in the prevalence of current smoking (water pipes and cigarettes) from 5.4% (95% CI: 4.0-7.2) in 2013 to 2.8% (95% CI: 2.2-3.6) in 2019. In 2019, 2.6% of the in-school adolescents reported having used electronic cigarette products 30 days prior to the survey. Factors associated with a significantly higher likelihood of current smoking status included gender, loneliness, suicidal ideation, sexual activity, truancy, and alcohol consumption. Similar patterns were observed for e-cigarettes.

CONCLUSION

Smoking among in-school adolescents in Vietnam decreased between 2013 and 2019. Follow-up studies are needed to further investigate causal factors so that future policies and communication programmes can be more effectively targeted to reduce smoking in adolescents.

Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Influence of Associated Factors among Students of the University of Banja Luka: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Cigarette smoking among the youth population has increased significantly in developing countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, no extant literature assesses the prevalence of tobacco use, nor identifies factors associated with smoking. This study determined the prevalence of cigarette smoking among a specific cohort of students and assessed factors related to tobacco use in this population. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1200 students at all faculties of Banja Luka University. Data were collected from questionnaires adapted from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) and the Global Health Professional Student Survey (GHPSS) standardized questionnaires and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's χ2 test, and logistic regression. Results: When the prevalence of cigarette smoking within the last thirty days was recorded, we found that 34.1% of students smoked within this period. Nearly three-quarters (74.9%) of the student population had smoked or experimented with cigarette smoking. However, medical students were 27.2% less likely to smoke than their counterparts from other faculties. Overall, 87% of all students were aware of the harmful effects of cigarette smoking, 79% were aware of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, and 65% reported that it was difficult to quit. Increased spending of personal money was associated with a higher probability of smoking, while exposure to secondhand smoke increased the odds of smoking by 62%. Conclusion: Policies, strategies, and action plans should be introduced in order to reduce the prevalence of smoking among university students and to create a smoke-free environment at the various universities involved.

Comparison and determination of factors associated with smoking status, smoking knowledge, attitude and practice (S-KAP) between smoke-free and non-smoke-free campuses in public universities in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

We compared the smoking prevalence, smoking knowledge, attitudes and practices (S-KAP) between smoke-free campuses (SFCs) and non-SFCs (NSFCs) and determined the associated factors of smoking status and S-KAP.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTINGS

The research was conducted in four public universities in Malaysia; two SFCs and two NSFCs.

PARTICIPANTS

Students and staff from SFCs (n=1063) and NSFCs (n=1040).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Compared the smoking prevalence, S-KAP between SFCs and NSFCs and determined the associated factors.

RESULTS

The prevalence of smokers among the SFC and NSFC respondents was 5.2% and 6.7%, respectively. University type and smoking attitude were significantly related (p=0.02). At the SFCs, the factors associated with becoming a smoker were male gender (p<0.001), monthly income ≥RM3000 (p=0.02), positive smoking attitude (p=0.003) and positive smoking practice (p<0.001); at NSFCs, the associated factors were male gender (p<0.001), low smoking knowledge (p=0.004), positive smoking attitude (p=0.001) and practice (p<0.001). The factors associated with good smoking knowledge were female gender (SFCs: p=0.001; NSFCs: p=0.004), and monthly income ≥RM3000 (NSFCs: p=0.02). Male respondents were likely to have positive smoking attitudes (SFCs: p<0.001; NSFCs: p<0.001) and negative smoking practices (SFCs: p<0.001; NSFCs: p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Overall, smoking prevalence, knowledge and practice were not much different between SFCs and NSFCs. However, there was a significant relationship between university type and smoking attitude due to the existence of the SFC policy likely rendering smoking a less acceptable social norm. Continual education programmes on smoking harms and smoking cessation strategies are highly recommended to aid the SFC policy in preventing secondhand smoke in universities.

Clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors among first-year students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the second leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, there is substantial evidence that modifiable risk factors for CVD are increasing in adolescents. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of information on the prevalence and clustering of these risk factors in adolescents.

OBJECTIVES

This study explores the modifiable risk factors for CVD among first-year students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

METHODS

A total of 546 newly admitted students at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, were recruited using stratified random sampling. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from study participants between January and February 2016.

RESULTS

The mean age of respondents was 19 ± 2.2 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1. The reported risk factors for CVD were smoking (1.6%), abdominal obesity (3.3%), alcohol consumption (3.7%), overweight/obesity (20.7%), unhealthy diet (85.3%), and physical inactivity (94.5%). Clustering of ≥ 2 risk factors was reported in 23.4% of students. Female students were twice as probably overweight/obese as male students (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.2; confidence interval [CI] = 1.41-3.43). Students whose fathers were skilled workers were 3.5 times more likely to be physically inactive (AOR = 1.7; CI = 0.97-2.96). The clustering of ≥ 2 risk factors was significantly higher among women and Muslims in bivariate analysis, whereas no significant association was found in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Public health strategies to prevent CVD risk factors should begin in schools and extend to the entire community.

The effect of anxiety on nicotine dependence among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

PURPOSE

This study investigated the effect of anxiety on nicotine dependence among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a descriptive and correlational study. The sample consisted of 503 university students in Turkey. Data were collected online using a demographic characteristics form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND).

FINDINGS

FTND scores differed by gender, family type, and grade level, while STAI scores differed by gender, income, and region of residence (p < 0.05). Fifty-one percent of the participants had moderate anxiety, while 65.2% had low nicotine dependence. FTND and STAI mean scores were strongly correlated (p < 0.05).

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The higher the anxiety, the higher the nicotine dependence among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prevalence of Binge-Eating Disorder and Its Association with Nicotine Dependence Among Under-Graduate Students at a Saudi Public University

Purpose

There is minimal information regarding the prevalence of binge-eating disorders in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to measure the prevalence of BED and its association with nicotine dependency (ND) among undergraduate university students at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU).

Methods

A cross-sectional study recruited 878 participants, with an inclusion criteria that encompassed all IMSIU undergraduate students of either sex. The online-based self-report questionnaire was distributed through e-mail, which used the Binge-Eating Disorder Screener-7 (BEDS-7) to evaluate BED symptoms and the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) to measure the levels of ND. The e-FTND version was also adapted into the questionnaire to account for modern methods of nicotine usage.

Results

A total of 165 participants were BED positive, with a prevalence of 18.8%, 99 of whom were women, and 66 were men. Women were significantly more predicted for BED than men (p = 0.035). Men appeared to be mainly more expected to be nicotine dependent (p < 0.001). BED positive participants showed a higher probability of being nicotine dependent than BED negative participants in the multivariate logistic regression analysis (95% CI 1.3–3.2; p = 0.002).

Conclusion

BED prevalence was notably high compared to worldwide estimates, with a significant association to nicotine dependence by the multivariate analysis. In the future, more investigations regarding the prevalence of specific types of eating disorders, including BED, in Saudi Arabia need to be considered.

Health-Risk Behaviors and Dietary Patterns Among Jordanian College Students: A Pilot Study

Background/Aims: Health promotion and the incorporation of health-protective behaviors in people's lifestyles have a great role in enhancing individuals' overall health and well-being. College students are at increased risk of developing unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted to assess the health-risk behaviors among undergraduate college students at Jordan University of Science and Technology. Methods: The final sample included 136 students, with a mean age of 21.1 ± 2.37 years, mostly females (69%). A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection about dietary and lifestyle behaviors among college students. The questionnaire consisted of four parts: sociodemographic characteristics, body weight classifications, lifestyle behaviors, and dietary patterns and intake, and eating behaviors. Results: Most of the students did not meet the daily recommendations for fruit (76%) and vegetable (82%) intake. Males were significantly consuming fast food more frequently (p = 0.019), and smoked cigarettes (p < 0.001) or hookah (p = 0.015) more frequently than did females. Further, the majority met the recommendations for physical activity (81%), but exceeded recommendations for sedentary behavior. Females were more likely to have normal weight or be underweight (OR = 4.865), to have a fear of weight gain (OR = 3.387), and to have the recommended sleeping hours (OR = 7.685) than were males. Conclusion: The results indicate the health-risk behaviors and the gender-related differences among college students.

National, regional, and global prevalence of cigarette smoking among women/females in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic and meta-analysis review aimed to provide an updated estimate of the prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women, in geographic areas worldwide, and demonstrate a trend of the prevalence of smoking over time by using a cumulative meta-analysis.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published on the prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women. We searched PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, and Ovid from January 2010 to April 2020. The reference lists of the studies included in this review were also screened. Data were reviewed and extracted independently by two authors. A random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women. Sources of heterogeneity among the studies were determined using subgroup analysis and meta-regression.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women was 28% and 17%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of ever cigarette smoking in adolescent girls/students of the school, adult women, pregnant women, and women with the disease was 23%, 27%, 32%, and 38%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of ever cigarette smoking in the continents of Oceania, Asia, Europe, America, and Africa was 36%, 14%, 38%, 31%, and 32%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of cigarette smoking among women is very high, which is significant in all subgroups of adolescents, adults, and pregnant women. Therefore, it is necessary to design and implement appropriate educational programs for them, especially in schools, to reduce the side effects and prevalence of smoking among women.

Prevalence of smoking among health science students in Vietnam in 2018 and associated factors: A cross-sectional study

Smoking is a global health problem among health science students. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of smoking and to examine associated factors among health science students from five universities in Vietnam. Among 5946 participants (95.0% response rate), the smoking prevalence was 19.2% (95% CI:17.4–21.0%) among male students and 2.9% (95% CI:2.4–3.5%) among female students. In the multivariable regression models, significant factors for smoking were the perceived financial burden, the respondent’s year in university, a non-self-determined motivation profile, self-reported depression and/or anxiety, the level of vigorous physical activity, and alcohol drinking.

Determining correlates of the average number of cigarette smoking among college students using count regression models

College students, as a large part of young adults, are a vulnerable group to several risky behaviors including smoking and drug abuse. This study aimed to utilize and to compare count regression models to identify correlates of cigarette smoking among college students. This was a cross-sectional study conducted on students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. The Poisson, negative binomial, generalized Poisson, exponentiated-exponential geometric regression models and their zero-inflated counterparts were fitted and compared using the Vuong test (α = 0.05). A number of 1258 students participated in this study. The majority of students were female (60.8%) and their average age was 23 years. Most of the students were non-smokers (84.6%). Negative binomial regression was selected as the most appropriate model for analyzing the data (comparable fit and simpler interpretation). The significant correlates of the number of cigarettes smoked per day included gender (male: incident-rate-ratio (IRR = 9.21), birth order (Forth: IRR = 1.99), experiencing a break-up (IRR = 2.11), extramarital sex (heterosexual (IRR = 2.59), homosexual (IRR = 3.13) vs. none), and drug abuse (IRR = 5.99). Our findings revealed that several high-risk behaviors were associated with the intensity of smoking, suggesting that these behaviors should be considered in smoking cessation intervention programs for college students.