Prevalence of tobacco smoking between 2009 and 2015 among students and the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Introduction Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Studies on smoking in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have shown inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to provide a literature review on the prevalence of tobacco smoking among school students, universit...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Omer Abid, Ali M. Alwadey, Kamal Eldeirawi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Publishing 2023-04-01
Series:Tobacco Induced Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Prevalence-of-tobacco-smoking-between-2009-and-2015-namong-students-and-the-general,153975,0,2.html
_version_ 1797821767295696896
author Omer Abid
Ali M. Alwadey
Kamal Eldeirawi
author_facet Omer Abid
Ali M. Alwadey
Kamal Eldeirawi
author_sort Omer Abid
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Studies on smoking in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have shown inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to provide a literature review on the prevalence of tobacco smoking among school students, university students, and the general population of KSA during 2009–2015, before the implementation of new tobacco control measures. Methods We searched PubMed and Google for articles published in English from 2009 to 2015, focused on overall tobacco smoking and/or any form of tobacco smoking (e.g. tobacco, cigarette, and waterpipe) and conducted with a sample of ≥300 participants. Only the prevalence of current smoking was assessed. A narrative synthesis of the prevalence results was conducted. Results Of the 360 studies found in the primary search, 91 were selected for further examination for eligibility, and 20 studies were included in the review. Among school students, the prevalence of smoking any form of tobacco (cigarettes, waterpipes, or both) ranged 10.0–21.7%. The prevalence of cigarette smoking ranged 8.9–19.5% and for waterpipe smoking it was 9.5%. Among university students, the prevalence of smoking any form of tobacco ranged 11.1–25.3%, cigarette smoking 7.8–17.5%, and waterpipe 4.3–18.0%. In the general population, the prevalence of cigarette smoking ranged 19.6–23.5% and for waterpipe smoking it was 4.3%. Conclusions Our study shows smoking levels were high in the KSA between 2009 and 2015. Studies utilizing standardized methodology with nationally representative samples are needed to better characterize the prevalence of different types of tobacco smoking. More research on national representative samples is needed, including studies on the same populations/groups/areas over time using standardized tools and definitions.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T09:58:42Z
format Article
id doaj.art-66fd0198987249e98da62ee6a76dda1f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1617-9625
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-13T09:58:42Z
publishDate 2023-04-01
publisher European Publishing
record_format Article
series Tobacco Induced Diseases
spelling doaj.art-66fd0198987249e98da62ee6a76dda1f2023-05-23T11:04:31ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252023-04-0121April1910.18332/tid/153975153975Prevalence of tobacco smoking between 2009 and 2015 among students and the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaOmer Abid0Ali M. Alwadey1Kamal Eldeirawi2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8669-3802Insight Hospital and Medical Center, Flint, United StatesTobacco Control Program, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Population Health Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, United StatesIntroduction Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Studies on smoking in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have shown inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to provide a literature review on the prevalence of tobacco smoking among school students, university students, and the general population of KSA during 2009–2015, before the implementation of new tobacco control measures. Methods We searched PubMed and Google for articles published in English from 2009 to 2015, focused on overall tobacco smoking and/or any form of tobacco smoking (e.g. tobacco, cigarette, and waterpipe) and conducted with a sample of ≥300 participants. Only the prevalence of current smoking was assessed. A narrative synthesis of the prevalence results was conducted. Results Of the 360 studies found in the primary search, 91 were selected for further examination for eligibility, and 20 studies were included in the review. Among school students, the prevalence of smoking any form of tobacco (cigarettes, waterpipes, or both) ranged 10.0–21.7%. The prevalence of cigarette smoking ranged 8.9–19.5% and for waterpipe smoking it was 9.5%. Among university students, the prevalence of smoking any form of tobacco ranged 11.1–25.3%, cigarette smoking 7.8–17.5%, and waterpipe 4.3–18.0%. In the general population, the prevalence of cigarette smoking ranged 19.6–23.5% and for waterpipe smoking it was 4.3%. Conclusions Our study shows smoking levels were high in the KSA between 2009 and 2015. Studies utilizing standardized methodology with nationally representative samples are needed to better characterize the prevalence of different types of tobacco smoking. More research on national representative samples is needed, including studies on the same populations/groups/areas over time using standardized tools and definitions.http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Prevalence-of-tobacco-smoking-between-2009-and-2015-namong-students-and-the-general,153975,0,2.htmlcigarette smokingsystematic reviewwaterpipe smokingshishakingdom of saudi arabia
spellingShingle Omer Abid
Ali M. Alwadey
Kamal Eldeirawi
Prevalence of tobacco smoking between 2009 and 2015 among students and the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tobacco Induced Diseases
cigarette smoking
systematic review
waterpipe smoking
shisha
kingdom of saudi arabia
title Prevalence of tobacco smoking between 2009 and 2015 among students and the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_full Prevalence of tobacco smoking between 2009 and 2015 among students and the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_fullStr Prevalence of tobacco smoking between 2009 and 2015 among students and the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of tobacco smoking between 2009 and 2015 among students and the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_short Prevalence of tobacco smoking between 2009 and 2015 among students and the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_sort prevalence of tobacco smoking between 2009 and 2015 among students and the general population in the kingdom of saudi arabia
topic cigarette smoking
systematic review
waterpipe smoking
shisha
kingdom of saudi arabia
url http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Prevalence-of-tobacco-smoking-between-2009-and-2015-namong-students-and-the-general,153975,0,2.html
work_keys_str_mv AT omerabid prevalenceoftobaccosmokingbetween2009and2015amongstudentsandthegeneralpopulationinthekingdomofsaudiarabia
AT alimalwadey prevalenceoftobaccosmokingbetween2009and2015amongstudentsandthegeneralpopulationinthekingdomofsaudiarabia
AT kamaleldeirawi prevalenceoftobaccosmokingbetween2009and2015amongstudentsandthegeneralpopulationinthekingdomofsaudiarabia