Prevalence, Comparison, and Determinants of Smoking among Young Schoolchildren in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Khalid  Ansari; Faraz Ahmed  Farooqi; Syed Taha  Abidi; Jaffar Shawqi  Al Mubarak; Saqib Ali

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2020.4271

Authors

Khalid Ansari Department of Respiratory Care, College of Applied Medical Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Faraz Ahmed Farooqi Department of Academic Affairs, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Syed Taha Abidi Department of Public Health, Saudi Electronic University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Jaffar Shawqi Al Mubarak Department of Respiratory Care, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saqib Ali Department of Biomedical Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.4271

Keywords:

Children, Cigarette, Prevalence, Saudi Arabia, School Smoking

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Smoking is one of the most serious health issues among all age groups, particularly in children globally including the Gulf region. However, there are little data about the prevalence in public and private schools and determinants of smoking among adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence, compare, and determine smoking habits among male children in public and private schools.

METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Dammam city, KSA. The data were collected from 866 male children studying in public and private schools. Sample was calculated through stratified random sampling. The modified “Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)” was used to collect information.

RESULTS: The total number of children recruited was 866 (223 from private and 643 from public schools). The mean age of children studied was 14.20 ± 1.03 years in both groups. The result shows that overall 27.8% of children tried to smoke cigarette both in public and private schools. The prevalence of smoking is higher in public schools’ children than in private schools (30% vs. 21%; p = 0.005). In addition, wrong perception of comfortable feeling after smoking, easy access to cigarettes, parent’s addiction, and smoking in front of children are the determining factors.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the prevalence of cigarettes smoking among children exists in considerable proportion. It is higher in public schools children. The health and education authorities should take urgent steps to encounter this major health issue.

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