Hamadeh Randah R, Lee Juhan, Abu-Rmeileh Niveen M E, Darawad Muhammad, Mostafa Aya, Kheirallah Khalid A, Yusufali Afzalhussein, Thomas Justin, Salama Mohamed, Nakkash Rima, Salloum Ramzi G
College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain.
Department of Health Education and Behavior, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States.
Tob Induc Dis. 2020 Dec 2;18:100. doi: 10.18332/tid/129266. eCollection 2020.
Males have a higher prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) than females in most Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries, with a smaller gender gap than that of cigarette smoking. The objective of this study was to determine gender differences among university students with respect to WTS initiation, smoking behavior, tobacco flavors, and expenditure on WTS, in four EMR countries.
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted based on convenient samples of ever waterpipe smokers among university students in four EMR countries (Egypt, Jordan, Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the United Arab Emirates) in 2016. The total samples included 2470 participants. Study participants were invited through flyers, university portals, emails and Facebook, followed by emails with links to the internet survey.
Females (80.4%) were more likely than males (66.4%, p<0.001) to be in the younger age group (18-22 years) and they were less likely to be current waterpipe smokers (females, 60.0%; males 69.5%, p<0.001). Two-thirds of students across both genders smoked their first waterpipe at the age of 15-19 years, with more females starting with family members. Over one-third of males and 14.9% of the females usually smoked ≥10 heads (p<0.001). About half (46.6%) of females smoked for less than half an hour compared to 30.5% of males (p<0.001). Only 1% of females smoked non-flavored tobacco compared to 11% of males (p<0.001). There was a significant (p=0.05) positive correlation (r=0.808) with respect to tobacco flavor usually smoked between males and females with apple/double apple being the most popular.
There were gender differences in WTS in several aspects. The study has implications for educational establishments, tobacco control and women civil society groups, as well as policymakers.
在大多数东地中海区域国家，男性水烟吸食率高于女性，且性别差距小于卷烟吸食。本研究的目的是确定四个东地中海区域国家大学生在水烟吸食起始、吸烟行为、烟草口味和水烟支出方面的性别差异。
2016年，基于四个东地中海区域国家（埃及、约旦、巴勒斯坦被占领土和阿拉伯联合酋长国）大学生中曾经吸食过水烟者的便利样本进行了一项横断面在线调查。总样本包括2470名参与者。通过传单、大学门户网站、电子邮件和脸书邀请研究参与者，随后通过电子邮件发送互联网调查链接。
女性（80.4%）比男性（66.4%，p<0.001）更有可能处于较年轻年龄组（18 - 22岁），且她们当前吸食水烟的可能性较小（女性为60.0%；男性为69.5%，p<0.001）。两个性别的学生中有三分之二在年龄15 - 19岁时首次吸食水烟，更多女性是与家人一起开始吸食。超过三分之一的男性和14.9%的女性通常吸食≥10斗（p<0.001）。约一半（46.6%）的女性吸烟时间少于半小时，而男性为30.5%（p<0.001）。只有1%的女性吸食无味烟草，而男性为11%（p<0.001）。男性和女性通常吸食的烟草口味之间存在显著正相关（p = 0.05，r = 0.808），苹果/双苹果口味最受欢迎。
水烟吸食在几个方面存在性别差异。该研究对教育机构、烟草控制和妇女民间社会团体以及政策制定者具有启示意义。
