Smokers and marriage: attitude of youth in the United Arab Emirates.
BACKGROUND
In order to control the tobacco scourge, an array of measures is required. Among them is focusing on adolescent relationships as it has been shown that being in a close relationship with a smoker or a non smoker will in the long run be a major factor in deciding whether the individual adopts smoking for initial non-smokers or ceases the habit for initial smokers.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the attitude of youth towards other smokers and towards marrying a smoker.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out among 415 students from five universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Self-administered structured questionnaires were used for data collection. The Chi square test was used to detect significant differences between frequencies.


RESULTS
Of the 415 participants who provided their gender information, 99 (24%) were males and 314 (76%) were females. Of all the participants, 83.5% were not willing to marry smokers, while 16.5% were willing. Of those whose parents smoked (106) 68% did not like it when their parents smoked, 13.6% had no opinion, 17.5% did not mind, while the other 1% had other thoughts. Of those whose close friends smoked, 43.4% did not like it, 16.2% did not have any opinion, 36.9% did not mind while 3.5% had other thoughts.


CONCLUSIONS
Most participants, both males and females are not willing to marry smokers and prefer to have non-smokers as spouses. Also, smokers are seen as less attractive by both genders in contrast to what appears as popular beliefs amongst youngsters and what is depicted in tobacco advertisements. Tobacco control activities can be undertaken in the community and colleges by incorporating students as facilitators.
Student Division, College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UAE.
Salihu Umar
SU
Bello
Mohammad Awwal
MA
Jibril
Hessa Ali
HA
Hassam
Faris
F
Haisan
Jasem
J
Al Zaabi
Hafsatu Sani
HS
Zangon Daura
Rizwana B
RB
Shaikh
Shatha
S
al Sharbatti
Elsheba
E
Mathew
Jayadevan
J
Sreedharan
Jayakumary
J
Muttappallymyalil
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D011639:Public Opinion; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult