title: Characteristics and risk factors of tobacco consumption among University of Sharjah students, 2005.
abstract: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, patterns and risk factors of tobacco consumption among a stratified random sample of students at University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), during 2005. The overall reported smoking prevalence among 1057 sampled students was 15.1%; cigarette smokers were 9.4% and waterpipe smokers 5.6%. While women comprised only 8.9% of cigarette smokers, they were 26.2% of waterpipe smokers. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the most important predictors for smoking among the students were: male sex, having a smoking friend, having a smoking family member (father/mother/both), non-UAE nationality and older age. There is a need to intensify efforts to prevent young people from starting smoking and to help young smokers to stop.
authors.affiliation: High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt. ahmedmandil@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Omer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turki
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gaber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities