Al-Hanawi Mohammed Khaled, Keetile Mpho
Department of Health Services and Hospitals Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 22;15(1):30841. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-16324-7.
Tobacco use, both smoked and smokeless, remains a major public health concern in Saudi Arabia, significantly contributing to the burden of non-communicable diseases. Saudi Arabia is ranked fourth in the world in terms of tobacco sales and importation. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of tobacco use (both smoked and smokeless) among the adult population of Saudi Arabia using the most recent nationally representative survey data. Data derived from the 2021 National Health Survey (NHS) were used for analyses. The NHS is a cross-sectional survey conducted by the General Authority for Statistics in Saudi Arabia to collect data from a sample consisting of the Saudi population aged 15 years and older. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess prevalence and to identify socioeconomic correlates of current smoked and smokeless tobacco use. Among the 1530 respondents, the prevalence of current smoked and smokeless tobacco use was 15.6% and 8.6%, respectively. Gender, age, and monthly income were significantly associated with increased odds of both forms of tobacco use. Men were over 14 times more likely to smoke tobacco [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 14.8, 95% CI = 7.03-31.5] and were 8 times more likely to use smokeless tobacco (AOR = 8.00, 95% CI = 3.53-18.1) compared to women. Additionally, individuals aged 25-44 years, those earning 12,000-20,000 Saudi Riyal monthly and residing in Al-Baha region had higher odds of tobacco use compared to their counterparts. In contrast, being married and having higher education were associated with lower odds of both smoked and smokeless tobacco use. The observed prevalence of tobacco use highlights a need for more targeted, evidence-based public health interventions, especially for men, middle-aged adults, individuals with low- to middle-range income and those residing in Al-Baha region. Strengthening tobacco control policies and enforcement may help reverse this rising trend.
在沙特阿拉伯，吸烟和使用无烟烟草仍然是一个主要的公共卫生问题，对非传染性疾病负担有重大影响。沙特阿拉伯在烟草销售和进口方面位居世界第四。本研究的目的是利用最新的全国代表性调查数据，评估沙特阿拉伯成年人口中吸烟和使用无烟烟草的流行情况及其相关因素。分析使用了来自2021年国家健康调查（NHS）的数据。NHS是沙特阿拉伯统计总局进行的一项横断面调查，旨在从15岁及以上的沙特人口样本中收集数据。描述性统计、双变量分析和多变量逻辑回归模型用于评估流行情况，并确定当前吸烟和使用无烟烟草的社会经济相关因素。在1530名受访者中，当前吸烟和使用无烟烟草的流行率分别为15.6%和8.6%。性别、年龄和月收入与两种形式的烟草使用几率增加显著相关。与女性相比，男性吸烟的可能性高出14倍以上[调整后的优势比（AOR）=14.8，95%置信区间（CI）=7.03-31.5]，使用无烟烟草的可能性高出8倍（AOR=8.00，95%CI=3.53-18.1）。此外，与同龄人相比，年龄在25-44岁之间、月收入在12000-20000沙特里亚尔之间且居住在巴哈地区的人使用烟草的几率更高。相比之下，已婚和受过高等教育与吸烟和使用无烟烟草的几率较低相关。观察到的烟草使用流行率表明需要采取更有针对性的、基于证据的公共卫生干预措施，特别是针对男性、中年成年人、中低收入人群以及居住在巴哈地区的人群。加强烟草控制政策和执法可能有助于扭转这一上升趋势。
