title: Hookah use among high school children in an Indian city.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Use of hookah is on the rise among youngsters. A growing body of evidence suggests that these children are experimenting with this form of tobacco.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was carried out to know prevalence estimates of hookah use and factors associated with it among high school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study adds to the current literature by providing prevalence estimates and factors associated with hookah use among high school students of Indore - a city in central India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 1000 students from high schools was conducted to find hookah users and factors associated with its use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hookah users in this study population were 7.6%. Most of them first learned about hookah from friends (63.2%). They usually smoked in hookah lounges (85.5%). These children believed that hookah was safer and more socially acceptable than cigarettes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Misperceptions of safety and popularity of hookah among the younger generation are cause for concern. Presence of hookah lounges should be a target for further regulation. Prevention activities are necessary to prevent this rising public health concern.
authors.affiliation: Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore, India.
authors.forename: Nayak Prathibha
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: Khandelwal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vishal
authors.forename: Nayak Ullal
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: Khandelwal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sushma
authors.forename: Ninawe
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nupur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires