Prevalence of Water-pipe Smoking among Arab Students in Malaysia - and Its Associated Factors

Background: The prevalence of water-pipe smoking has been rapidly increasing among youths throughout the world.

According to WHO, more than 100 million people use water-pipe regularly.

Objective: The purpose of this Study is to estimate the prevalence of water-pipe smoking among Arab-students in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia, and its association with socio-demographic factors, besides assessing their knowledge on the health-outcomes of water-pipe smoking, and relate such knowledge with the same socio-demographic factors. The Aim is also to identify the main attractants to water-pipe smoking, besides the participants’ stand on banning such activity.

Method: This Study was conducted among Arab-students at convenient places in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in 2017. The students were above 18 and studying in universities. A community-based cross-sectional study among 243 students (selected using a non-probability snowball sampling method) was conducted. The data was collected using a pre-tested, self-administered Questionnaire.

Results: The Study showed high prevalence of Water-pipe smoking of 33.7%. Male students had a higher prevalence than female (37.1%; 29% respectively). Age was found to be significantly associated (p = 0.01). Those with poor knowledge about water-pipe smoking were found to be 38.3%. Slightly more than half of the water-pipe smokers (51.2%) had started smoking before the age of 18.

Conclusion: This Study proves that water-pipe smoking among Arab-students remains a significant public health concern. Thus, there is an urgent need for the Malaysian authorities to implement new regulations on water-pipe smoking. Further studies should be done among different migrant-populations and locals in Malaysia.