The purpose of this study is to provide a summary of research on cigarette smoking within Kuwait. Methods: 4000 participants were selected using three a three-stage cluster sampling design. Altogether 3859 participants (1798 males, 2061 females) returned a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 34.4% among men and 1.9% among women. Among men, the highest prevalence was observed in the youngest age group (< 20 years). Among women the highest prevalence was observed in one of the older age groups (46-50 years). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the following factors were independently associated with smoking: lower levels of education and lower employment grade. The highest probability of smoking initiation (among current and former smokers) was found for the age group 15-20 years, where almost 29% of the respondents initiated smoking. If smoking regulations were enforced, about 43% of current smokers would abide by these restrictions. Most of the respondents would support legislation to ban cigarette advertisement (90.1%), control the tar and nicotine content of cigarettes (87.2%), further smoking restrictions in public places (87.1%), and restrictions to sell tobacco products to children (96.5%).
Learning Objectives: 1.Describe the prevalence and epidemiology of cigarette smoking in Kuwait and other GCC countries; 2. Compare the age patterns in cumulative probability of cigarette smoking initiatives among Kuwaiti adult males with those in selected industrialized countries; 3. Recognize the differentials in smoking initiation in relation to factors such as age-cohort, cigarette smoking of friends and family members and other related variables. 4. Compare the willingness of Kuwaitis to support anti-smoking legislation, such as increasing tax on tobacco, with those persons from industrialized countries.
Keywords: Smoking, Epidemiology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.