Tobacco use in shisha: Studies on waterpipe smoking

Type of smoker Adult male (%)
Exclusively cigarettes 34
Exclusively waterpipes 10
Mixed smokers 3
Total 47
Smok<strong>in</strong>g prevalence among adult females was less than 1% (this estimate is very liable
to underreport<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a ho<strong>use</strong>hold survey) and thus all subsequent analysis foc<strong>use</strong>d on male
smok<strong>in</strong>g.
These figures are similar to those for adult males all over the world but much lower for
adult females. In 2000, globally, just over 47% of men and 10% of women smoked, with a global
prevalence rate of 29%. [20] In earlier reports these figures were estimated <strong>in</strong> Egypt for 2001
to be 40% and 18% among adult males and females respectively, with an overall prevalence of
29%. [21] This current study corrects these estimates for females and confirms that smok<strong>in</strong>g
is not a common habit among Egyptian females and young people, which agrees with other
published studies. [22, 23, 24] Similarly, Table 2.3 shows smok<strong>in</strong>g prevalence was 47% of adult
males, which is close to the 48% that was reported <strong>in</strong> Alexandria among 1162 males. [24]
Percentage
Table 2.2 Education of the adult male and female
<strong>in</strong>terviewees
Education level (%) Males Females Total
No school education 25 48 38
School education 56 43 49
University or above 19 10 14
P < 0.001
Table 2.3 Prevalence of different smok<strong>in</strong>g
type among adult males
Cigarette smok<strong>in</strong>g predom<strong>in</strong>ates other methods of smok<strong>in</strong>g, and mix<strong>in</strong>g waterpipe and
cigarette smok<strong>in</strong>g was <strong>in</strong>frequently observed (3%). Figure 2.1 shows that both waterpipe and
cigarette smok<strong>in</strong>g was most prevalent between the ages of 41 and 60 years. Cigarette smok<strong>in</strong>g
was lower among those between 18–20 years (16%). Waterpipe smok<strong>in</strong>g represents 24%–30%
of all smok<strong>in</strong>g patterns <strong>in</strong> all age groups.<strong>in</strong>g.
45
40
35
30
25
Cigarettes
20
Waterpipes
15
Mixed
10
5
0
< 20 21—30 31—40 41—50 51—60 > 60 Total
Age group
Figure 2.1 Smok<strong>in</strong>g prevalence by age group of males
19