PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF SHISHA SMOKING AMONG GOMBE STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Emerging literature suggests that shisha smoke contains many of the same toxicants as cigarette smoke, including carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A single shisha smoking session may involve inhalation of 50-100 times the smoke volume inhaled with a single cigarette. While tobacco control policies have largely centered on cigarette smoking, other forms like shisha, have largely been ignored.

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of shisha smoking among students of Gombe State University in Gombe State.

A cross-sectional study design with mixed methods of data collection was used to study (200) respondents using a multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) for qualitative data.

The prevalence of shisha smoking was 27% among the respondents with seven out of ten current shisha smokers being males. The majority of the respondents smoked daily. There was a statistically significant association (p=<0.05) between the present year of study, satisfaction with the present course of study, and current level of academic study with knowledge of the harmful effects of shisha smoking. Gender and the present year of study remained independent predictors of shisha smoking among study respondents. Male students were almost two and a half (2.4) times more likely to smoke shisha than females. Peer pressure and fun/pleasure-seeking were found to be motives for shisha smoking from the qualitative review.

Restraints should be imposed on shisha bars, cafés, and restaurants in the same way as tobacco control policies for cigarette smoking.