Prevalence and factors associated with current smoking among high school adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan
Rozi, S.; Akhtar, S.; Ali, S.; Khan, J.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 36(2): 498-504
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 15916062 Document Number: 591192
The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and to evaluate the factors associated with smoking among high school adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan. A school-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in three towns in Karachi, namely, Gadap, Bin-Qasim and Malir, between January and May 2003. Two-stage cluster sampling stratified by school type was employed to select schools and students. We recruited and interviewed 772 male students regarding sociodemographic factors, smoking history of students, their families/friends, number of siblings, and place of residence. The prevalence of smoking (30 days) among adolescents was 13.7%. Final multiple logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, ethnicity, and place of residence, being a student at a government school (odds ratio (OR)=1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-2.7), parental smoking (OR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.8), uncle smoking (OR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.8), peer smoking (OR=6.2; 95% CI: 3.9-9.9), and spending leisure time outside home (OR=3.9; 95% CI 1.2-13.2) were significantly associated with adolescent smoking. Results suggest the need for an effective tobacco control programme in Pakistan, especially targeting adolescents, keeping in mind that a large majority of adolescents are not enrolled in schools.