Informatics Publishing Limited

Sikandar K. Sherwani ¹, Haroon Ahmed ², Sadaf Ahmed ³, Shamoon Naushad ⁴, Asma Bashir ⁵, Abdul Ghaffar ⁶

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi, PK
2 Centre of Biotechnology & Microbiology, University of Peshawar-Peshawar, PK
3 Department of Physiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, PK
4 Advance Educational Institute and Research Center (AEIRC), Karachi, PK
5 Stem Cell Research Center, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Karachi
6 Memon Department of Environmental Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, PK

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the current status of knowledge , level of awareness, attitude and concerning factors of water pipe (shisha) smoking among male university students of a major city of Pakistan i.e. Karachi. A total number of 400 university students were included in the study and 170 were found Shisha smokers, further analysis of the queries indicated 38.70% Shisha smokers university students smoke for the sake of removing frustration , 24.10% for pleasure, 16.20% to gain attention of apposite gender, 12.90% for passing leisure time and 8.06% to release stress. Moreover, 58.80% acquired this habit in their university life, while 23.50% adopted from their college life and 17.60% smokers also adopt since school days. Regarding medical complications associated with water pipe consumption 47.17% of Shisha consuming students were found aware of respiratory problems, 17.60% were aware of heart complications, while 35.29% of the students responded all vital organs like lungs, kidney and heart equally at risk if water pipe consumes habitually and on the other hand 5.80% shisha consuming students were found totally blind with their health. This survey reflects an increasing trend of Water pipe (Shisha) trend in young Pakistani students and no doubt, a matter of serious public health concern that would definitely injurious to their health. In this regard, Parental monitoring is necessarily to be taken from as a part of their social responsibility. In addition to this, there is seriously a dire need of strong legislature and its proper implementation in our Pakistani society to curb the mushroom growth of rising culture.

Keywords

Water Pipe Smoking, University Students.

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