International Journal of Sport, Exercise and Health Research 2017; 1(2): 66-69 ; DOI:10.31254/sportmed.1204
Prevalence of Hookah Use among Islamic Azad University Students in the City of Ardabil, Iran
1. Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 13th August, 2017 / Accepted: 13th October, 2017
Background: Hookah smoking is becoming a global public health problem, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of hookah use among Islamic Azad University students of Ardabil. Methods: We aimed to recruit 22.31% of the students totaling 8414 to have sufficient numbers for sex and smoking method-based comparisons. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used after verbal informed consent according to the Review Committee of Ardabil Branch Islamic Azad University approved protocol. Results: According to data, 28.9% of students in Islamic Azad University of Ardabil were hookah users. Considerable numbers of students had been exposed to secondhand hookah smoke (48.3% among males and 36.0% among females). Although prevalence of hookah use was still higher among medical students (24.9%), compared with other schools it was lower. The majority of males and females (65.5% in males and 35.8 in females) were café consumer. The major motivation of hookah use among students was recreation (55.4% of males and 76.1% of females). Conclusion: Prevalence of hookah use is still high among Islamic Azad University of Ardabil students compared with 5 years ago. It seems educational program to decline hookah use among students was ineffectual. New strategies are required to control hookah use among students.
Hookah, Students, Passive Use, café consumer
