Prevalence and Associated Factors of Smoking Among Final Year Medical Students: A Multicentric Survey From Pakistan

Prevalence of tobacco smoking and associated factors among adults in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

The public health concern of tobacco smoking is more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. Various studies have investigated tobacco smoking in various parts of Ethiopia. However, the findings have been inconsistent and characterized by significant variability. Besides, there is no nationally representative data on the subject, which could deter the design of effective intervention strategies to reduce tobacco-related problems. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of tobacco smoking and associated factors among adults in Ethiopia.

Methods

The study was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols Guideline. A detailed search was conducted from international databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, CINAHL, African Journals Online, HINARI, Global Health, and Google Scholar. The extracted data was analyzed using STATA 14 software. A random-effects model was used to estimate the effect size. The Egger regression test and I2 statistics were used to determine potential publication bias and heterogeneity among the reviewed articles, respectively.

Results

A total of 32 studies with 69,897 study participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of lifetime tobacco smoking among adults in Ethiopia was 16.0% (95% confidence Interval (CI): 13.6-18.39) and there was significant heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 = 99.1%, p < 0.001). Male adults were three times more likely to smoke tobacco as compared with females [OR = 3.22 (95% CI: 2.06-5.03)]. Being an alcohol user [OR = 3.78 (95%CI: 1.27-11.24)] and having tobacco-smoking friends [OR = 7.21 (95%CI: 5.56-9.35)] are potential determinant factors for tobacco smoking.

Conclusion

The pooled prevalence of lifetime and current tobacco smoking among adults in Ethiopia was high, which calls for urgent intervention. Therefore, prioritization of tobacco control strategies, such as creating awareness about the public health importance of tobacco smoking, can help prevent and mitigate the effects of tobacco smoking. Alcohol control law enforcement should also be strengthened.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Cigarette Smoking Among Medical Students of Quaid-E-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Cigarette smoking acknowledged as the foremost contributor to preventable illnesses and deaths, has steadily risen since its inception, evolving into a global health crisis of paramount significance, particularly within the context of medical students who represent the future healthcare workforce. This study, conducted at Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, aimed to comprehensively evaluate current students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning cigarette smoking. Employing a web-based cross-sectional observational descriptive study design over the study period from June 15, 2020, to August 1, 2020, a sample of 200 medical students drawn from the first to fifth year was examined using stratified sampling. Data collection involved the distribution of a meticulously designed and pre-tested questionnaire through social media platforms, encompassing inquiries about participants' biodata and research-related topics. The subsequent data analysis utilized Google Spreadsheets, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and SPSS software to calculate percentages, create graphical representations, construct tables, and apply the chi-square test. The survey findings illuminated a remarkably high level of awareness, with 99% of respondents recognizing the harmful effects of smoking, including elevated cancer risk, and 94% acknowledging its addictive nature. A substantial 93% regarded passive smoking as equally detrimental as active smoking. In comparison, 98.5% were aware of the heightened risk of respiratory illnesses in children exposed to smoking. The majority exhibited a responsible stance towards discouraging smoking, with 90.5% feeling a duty to encourage cessation and 71.5% considering maintaining good health a sufficient incentive to quit. Additionally, 97% concurred that smoking in the presence of children should be avoided. Concerning smoking cessation, 64.5% believed high taxes were effective, and 97.5% deemed public smoking bans effective measures. Notably, 74% thought professional advice had limited influence on a smoker's attitude. Active smokers constituted a mere 20% of the sample, with a mere 2% commencing smoking before age 16 and 10% succumbing to peer pressure or media influence as instigating factors. Furthermore, 13.5% reported exam-related anxiety as a trigger for smoking, and 10% admitted to smoking in the company of non-smokers. Encouragingly, 19.5% expressed a desire to quit, with 5% seeking professional guidance in their cessation attempts. In conclusion, most participants exhibited commendable knowledge and a positive attitude towards cigarette smoking, contributing to a low prevalence of tobacco consumption among them. Nevertheless, the study underscores the need for ongoing improvements through targeted educational initiatives and governmental regulations to further mitigate tobacco use among future healthcare professionals and the broader population.

Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Influence of Associated Factors among Students of the University of Banja Luka: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Cigarette smoking among the youth population has increased significantly in developing countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, no extant literature assesses the prevalence of tobacco use, nor identifies factors associated with smoking. This study determined the prevalence of cigarette smoking among a specific cohort of students and assessed factors related to tobacco use in this population. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1200 students at all faculties of Banja Luka University. Data were collected from questionnaires adapted from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) and the Global Health Professional Student Survey (GHPSS) standardized questionnaires and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's χ2 test, and logistic regression. Results: When the prevalence of cigarette smoking within the last thirty days was recorded, we found that 34.1% of students smoked within this period. Nearly three-quarters (74.9%) of the student population had smoked or experimented with cigarette smoking. However, medical students were 27.2% less likely to smoke than their counterparts from other faculties. Overall, 87% of all students were aware of the harmful effects of cigarette smoking, 79% were aware of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, and 65% reported that it was difficult to quit. Increased spending of personal money was associated with a higher probability of smoking, while exposure to secondhand smoke increased the odds of smoking by 62%. Conclusion: Policies, strategies, and action plans should be introduced in order to reduce the prevalence of smoking among university students and to create a smoke-free environment at the various universities involved.

Cigarette smoking prevalence and associated factors among college students, Amhara, Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION

tobacco is the only legal drug that kills many of its users when used exactly as intended by the manufacturers. It is estimated that of the 1.1 billion smokers worldwide, nearly 80% of them live in low and middle-income countries. This trend increases in college and university students with most smokers starting to smoke during adolescent. The aim of this study is to assess cigarette smoking prevalence and associated factors among a select group of college of teachers´ education students.

METHODS

a cross-sectional study was conducted. Multistage sampling was used to select 605 study participants from across the eight departments of the Injibara College of Teachers´ Education. Each subject was selected by simple random sampling technique after proportional allocation to each class. EpiData version 4.2 was used for data entry and Stata version 14 was used for data cleaning and analysis. Variables with p-value < 0.2 in bi-variable analysis were selected for multi-variable analysis. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported to show the strength of association.

RESULTS

the current prevalence of cigarette smoking is 6.8% amongst the Injibara College of Teachers´ Education students. Males [AOR: 2.84 (95% CI: 1.13, 7.14)], divorced marital status [AOR: 7.27 (95% CI: 1.23, 42.85)], food source in hostel [AOR: 11.62 (95% CI 3.23, 41.71)] and exposure to family/other smokers [AOR: 6.17 (95% CI: 2.17, 16.06)] were statistically significant factors for cigarette smoking.

CONCLUSION

the prevalence of cigarette smoking was relatively low. Male, marital status, source of food, and exposure to family/other smokers were identified associated factors. Policy makers and health regulatory body are strongly encouraged to consider this evidence and the associated factors for smoking in their efforts to develop and implement tobacco control laws.