1. Patterns of electronic cigarette, conventional cigarette, and hookah use and related passive exposure among adolescents in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study
- Author
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Abdullah Redha, Abdullah Alnajem, Ali H. Ziyab, Maram Alhussaini, Ahmed Alshammasi, Waad Almutairi, Dalal Alroumi, Ali Esmaeil, and Mohamad Ali
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Health (social science) ,Cross-sectional study ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,010501 environmental sciences ,hookah ,lcsh:RC254-282 ,01 natural sciences ,law.invention ,symbols.namesake ,law ,Environmental health ,medicine ,Poisson regression ,adolescents ,Secondhand smoke ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,lcsh:RC705-779 ,business.industry ,Public health ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,lcsh:Diseases of the respiratory system ,Passive Exposure ,lcsh:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,Confidence interval ,electronic cigarettes ,symbols ,Epidemiologic data ,business ,Electronic cigarette ,cigarettes ,Research Paper ,secondhand smoke - Abstract
Introduction Use of tobacco products among adolescents is a major global public health concern. Given the changing landscape of tobacco product use and the lack of epidemiologic data to inform tobacco prevention and control strategies in Kuwait, this study sought to estimate the prevalence and patterns of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), conventional cigarette, and hookah use among adolescents in Kuwait. Moreover, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and secondhand aerosol (SHA) from e-cigarettes was assessed. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled high school students (n=1565; 16–19 years) across Kuwait. Current (past 30-day) use of e-cigarettes, conventional cigarettes, and hookah were assessed through self-reported data. Additionally, current (past 7-day) exposure to SHS and SHA in households and public places were ascertained. Associations were evaluated using Poisson regression, and adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Results Overall, 26.4% (402/1525), 25.1% (383/1525), and 20.9% (318/1525) of the study participants were current e-cigarette users, conventional cigarette smokers, and hookah smokers, respectively. Current use of any tobacco product was reported by 35.1% (535/1525) of the total study participants. The prevalence of concurrent triple use of ‘e-cigarettes, conventional cigarettes, and hookah’ was estimated to be 12.8% (195/1525). Also, among the study participants, 41.9% (619/1479) were exposed to household SHS, 32.0% (469/1465) were exposed to household SHA, and 62.2% (916/1472) were exposed to SHS and/or SHA in public places. Male adolescents were more likely than females to be current e-cigarette users (APR=5.19; 95% CI: 4.09–6.57), conventional cigarette smokers (APR=5.42; 95% CI: 4.26–6.90), and hookah smokers (APR=3.43; 95% CI: 2.72– 4.32). Conclusions A substantial proportion of adolescents in Kuwait are currently using tobacco products and being exposed to SHS/SHA. The findings emphasize the need to continue monitoring all forms of tobacco product use among adolescents and to strengthen tobacco prevention and control programs.
- Published
- 2020