Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Department of Natural Science and Public Health, College of Sustainability Sciences and Humanities, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
East Mediterr Health J. 2018 Jun 10;24(3):283-294. doi: 10.26719/2018.24.3.283.
Tobacco use among adolescents is an important public health concern as it causes various forms of smokingrelated health problems and can create a gateway for other substance abuse.
This study examined the prevalence, profile and predictors of tobacco use among expatriate and national adolescents living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Using a cross-sectional study design (2007-2009), we collected data on the prevalence of tobacco use in 6363 adolescents aged 13-20 years, including current smokers of cigarettes, midwakh, shisha and any other form of tobacco. We also collected demographic, socioeconomic, residential and behavioural data.
In the previous 30 days, 505 (8.9%) participants had smoked cigarettes, 355 (6.3%) had smoked midwakh, 421 (7.4%) had smoked shisha and 380 (6.4%) had smoked any other form of tobacco. Overall, 818 (14.0%) adolescents were current smokers, who reported occasional or daily use of at least one form of tobacco in the past 30 days. Results consistently indicated that the prevalence of tobacco use was higher among men than women, regardless of age and tobacco form. Among men, cigarette smoking was the most popular, whereas shisha was the most smoked form of tobacco among women. Being male and ever having used illegal drugs consistently emerged as significant predictors of all forms of tobacco use.
There is a need for continued public health strategies and education campaigns to discourage adolescents in the UAE from using tobacco.
青少年吸烟是一个重要的公共卫生问题，因为它会导致各种形式的与吸烟相关的健康问题，并为其他物质滥用创造途径。
本研究调查了居住在阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）的外籍和本地青少年中烟草使用的流行率、特征和预测因素。
采用横断面研究设计（2007-2009 年），我们收集了 6363 名 13-20 岁青少年的烟草使用流行率数据，包括当前吸烟者、水烟、水烟和任何其他形式的烟草。我们还收集了人口统计学、社会经济、居住和行为数据。
在过去 30 天内，505 名（8.9%）参与者吸过香烟，355 名（6.3%）吸过水烟，421 名（7.4%）吸过水烟，380 名（6.4%）吸过任何其他形式的烟草。总体而言，818 名（14.0%）青少年为当前吸烟者，他们报告在过去 30 天内偶尔或每天使用至少一种形式的烟草。结果表明，无论年龄和烟草形式如何，男性吸烟的比例均高于女性。在男性中，吸烟最受欢迎，而在女性中，水烟是最受欢迎的烟草形式。男性和曾经使用过非法药物始终是所有形式烟草使用的显著预测因素。
需要继续实施公共卫生策略和教育活动，以劝阻阿联酋青少年使用烟草。
