Smoking water pipe habits of university students and related sociodemographic characteristics

Abstract

AIM: The study set out to determine the prevalence of water pipe smoking among first and fourth grade university students, examining the sosiodemograhic factors which are related to water pipe smoking and contributing the applicable programs which are oriented to protective measures. METHOD: Survey of First and Fourth Year Students in Nine Turkish Universities to Determine Their Lifestyles and Knowledge Regarding Adolescence (2009) was carried out by the International Children's Center (ICC) in the faculties of Science and Literature, Education and Medicine. Totally 5.221 students were evaluated. Data were analyzed by using SPPS 16.0 statistical package program. RESULTS: While 18.9% of first grade university students that they smoke water pipe, 24.5% of fourth grade university students smoke water pipe (p<0.001). The first grade university students who were male (27.4%) and whose mothers and fathers are high-school graduate (28.0%- 24.9%), who study at faculty of arts and sciences (21.0%),who live alone (39.3%) and indicate their economic situation as good (21.8%) meaningfully smoke water pipe more than others. The fourth grade university students who were male (33.1%) and whose mothers and fathers are high-school graduate (35.9%-28.5%),who study at faculty of arts and sciences (28.6%) and who live with their friends (29.8%) meaningfully smoke water pipe more than others. CONCLUSION: The water pipe smoking is growing into a behaviour like smoking cigarette among young people. The rate of water pipe smoking is especially more common among young people whose socioecomonic situations are better than others.