Hookah Smoking: Characteristics, Behavior and Perceptions of Youth Smokers in Pune, India

Abstract

Background: Hookah smoking has been referred to as a global tobacco epidemic by public health officials. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics, behaviour and perceptions related to hookah smoking among the youth smokers in Pune. Methods: Two hundred and eighty established hookah smokers participated in this study. Data was collected using a 29-item questionnaire, constructed using three main domains: Characteristics (socio-demographic and personal), behaviour and perceptions (about harmful effects in comparison to cigarette smoking). Results: The results indicated that the mean age of starting hookah smoking was 17.3 years; 75% of participants did not have parental acceptance; light-headedness, dizziness and headache were most common reported nicotine effects, post hookah smoking. Hookah smoking on a daily basis was reported by 24.6% participants. The mean time of hookah session was 1 hour and 19 minutes. 68.2% participants were reported to smoke hookah in hookah-cafes and 35.7% participants were found to share the hookah. Some 66.7% participants had no intention to quit. Most of them (71-80%) had misperception about the safety of hookah smoking over cigarette smoking and 54-82% participants were unaware of health effects. Conclusions: Educational intervention is urgently needed to create awareness among the youth about the harmful effects of hookah smoking.

Effectiveness of health warnings for waterpipe tobacco smoking among college students

“…However, our findings about misperceptions and the proportion of current versus ever waterpipe smokers are similar to prior studies involving university students in other parts of the U.S. and across the world (Amin et al 2010; Haider et al 2015; Heinz et al 2013; Kakodkar and Bansal 2013). Another limitation is that health warnings were presented in the same order for all subjects, which may have led to biased results (Landon 1971).…”

The Influence of Drinking Motives on Hookah use Frequency Among Young Multi-Substance Users

“…This finding may suggest that investigators implementing prevention strategies should consider intervening on hookah use behavior during early adolescence. Finally, it is worth noting that participants in the present study largely perceived that hookah use was not as harmful to health relative to alcohol or cigarettes, a misperception that echoes previous work (Aljarrah, Ababneh, & Al- Delaimy, 2009; Kakodkar & Bansal, 2013; Martinasek, Gibson-Young, & Forrest, 2014). Such misperceptions may arise from beliefs about normative behaviors, having many friends who have tried hookah, or, based on hookah use having fewer associated restrictions, views that it is socially acceptable (Berg et al, 2015; Heinz et al, 2013).…”

Prevalence of Dokha Use among Secondary School Students in Ajman, United Arab Emirates

“…Study done in Saudi Arabia 2007 showed that most of the students (52%) smoked for 1 to 2 days in the last 30 days and only 6% smoke every day, and most of them smoked more than 4 times a day 29.1% and 2.4% prefer to smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day (Abdalla et al, 2007) 24.6% of young hookah smokers in Pune India smoked every day (Kakodkar and Bansal, 2013). In the order of cost, Shisha is most expensive, followed by cigarettes, then Dokha.…”