Risk Factors of Shisha Smoking Among College Students: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Shisha is a widely used form of tobacco, immensely popular among youth. Globally, more than 100 million people are found to be shisha smokers.  Objective: The purpose of the current study was to identify the factors in connection with the usage of shisha among male students from colleges of Dera Ghazi Khan. Methodology: A sample consisting of 194 respondents with a 97% response rate served as the basis for this case-control study. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data, which covered the demographic profile, interpersonal, intrapersonal and community aspects. Results: All of the respondents were college students, ranging from 16 to 24 years. Shisha smoking was found to be more common in the 16 to 18-year age range (47%), and the majority of respondents (84%) were single. The analysis's findings showed that shisha use among males was significantly associated with the area (OR: 3.469, 95% CI: 1.893–6.357), father education (OR: 2.650, 95% CI: 1.412-4.971), mother education (OR: 0.463, 95% CI: 0.259 – 0.827), marital status (OR: 0.190, 95% CI: 0.074 – 0.488), parent’s use (OR: 10.423, 95% CI: 5.367-20.241), friend’s use (OR: 2.124, 95% CI: 1.196 – 3.769), physical health awareness (OR:3.166, 95% CI: 1.757 – 5.706), attitude towards shisha smoking (OR: 2.951, 95% CI: 1.536 – 5.672), psychological needs (OR: 0.394, 95% CI: 0.202 – 0.769), Parental role (OR: 0.340, 95% CI: 0.180 – 0.642), peer pressure (OR: 3.553, 95% CI: 1.872 – 6.743), media influence (OR: 2.188, 95% CI: 1.217 – 3.932) and control polices (OR: 3.284, 95% CI: 1.777 – 6.071). Conclusion: Shisha use was observed more prominent with the aforementioned factors. The results also depict those students who are single and between the ages of 16 and 18 have a high prevalence of shisha use. It can be concluded from the current results that shisha smoking is dominant among the teenagers of D. G. Khan.