RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence and determinants of smoking in three regions of Saudi Arabia
JF Tobacco Control
JO Tob Control
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 53
OP 56
DO 10.1136/tc.8.1.53
VO 8
IS 1
A1 Jamal S Jarallah
A1 Khalid A Al-Rubeaan
A1 Abdul Rahman A Al-Nuaim
A1 Atallah A Al-Ruhaily
A1 Khalid A Kalantan
YR 1999
UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/8/1/53.abstract
AB OBJECTIVES To study the prevalence and determinants of cigarette smoking among Saudi nationals in three regions of Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS A sample of 8310 individuals aged 15 years and above from both sexes, randomly selected from the three regions, using a stratified cluster sampling technique. DESIGN A cross-sectional, household, community-based survey. Using a predesigned and tested questionnaire, the participants were interviewed by primary care physicians. The interview covered personal, social, and educational characteristics of the respondents, and also included questions about their smoking status, duration of smoking, and daily cigarette consumption. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Association between current smoking and sociodemographic variables, in univariate and multivariate analysis. Degree of interaction between the different determinants of cigarette smoking. RESULTS The overall prevalence of current smoking was 21.1% for males and 0.9% for females. Most smokers (78%) were young to middle-aged (21–50 years old). Smoking prevalence was higher among married people, among uneducated people, and among those in certain occupations: manual workers, businessmen, army officers, and office workers. CONCLUSIONS Cigarette smoking is an important public health problem in Saudi Arabia. A more intense and comprehensive tobacco control effort is needed.