Characteristics and risk factors of tobacco consumption among University of Sharjah students, 2005

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.