. 2024 Sep 4;24(1):2406.

doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19803-0.

Tobacco use and khat chewing among adolescents in Yemen: a large-scale school-based cross-sectional study

Sadeq Ali Al-Maweri¹, Mohammed Nasser Alhajj², Walid A Al-Soneidar³, Anas Shamala⁴, Baleegh Abdulraoof Alkadasi⁵, Abdullah Ghalib Amran⁶, Faisal Abu-Lohom⁷, Hesham Mohammed Al-Sharani⁸, Mohammed Abdullah Basalamah⁹, Zakarya Al-Muaalemi^{10

7}, Asma Saleh Almeslet¹¹, Saleem Abdulrab¹², Abdulaziz Abdullah Asiri¹³, Saba Kassim¹⁴, Esam Halboub¹⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preclinical Oral Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. sadali05@hotmail.com.
² Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen.
³ Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Preventive and Biomedical Science, College of Dentistry, University of Science & Technology, Sanaa, Yemen.
⁵ Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Ibb University, Ibb, Yemen.
⁶ Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen.
⁷ Faculty of Dentistry, Ibb University, Ibb, Yemen.
⁸ National Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU College of Health and Medicine, Canberra, Australia.
⁹ Faculty of Dentistry, Al-Arab University, Al-Mukalla, Yemen.
¹⁰ Faculty of Dentistry, Jiblah University for Medical & Health Sciences, Ibb, Yemen.
¹¹ Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Medicine and Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
¹² Alkhor Health Centre, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
¹³ Endodontic Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁴ Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁵ Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 39232711
PMCID: PMC11375828
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19803-0

Tobacco use and khat chewing among adolescents in Yemen: a large-scale school-based cross-sectional study

Sadeq Ali Al-Maweri et al. BMC Public Health. 2024.

. 2024 Sep 4;24(1):2406.

doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19803-0.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preclinical Oral Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. sadali05@hotmail.com.
² Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen.
³ Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Preventive and Biomedical Science, College of Dentistry, University of Science & Technology, Sanaa, Yemen.
⁵ Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Ibb University, Ibb, Yemen.
⁶ Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen.
⁷ Faculty of Dentistry, Ibb University, Ibb, Yemen.
⁸ National Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU College of Health and Medicine, Canberra, Australia.
⁹ Faculty of Dentistry, Al-Arab University, Al-Mukalla, Yemen.
¹⁰ Faculty of Dentistry, Jiblah University for Medical & Health Sciences, Ibb, Yemen.
¹¹ Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Medicine and Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
¹² Alkhor Health Centre, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
¹³ Endodontic Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁴ Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁵ Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 39232711
PMCID: PMC11375828
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19803-0

Abstract

Objective: The present study sought to assess the prevalence and determinants of tobacco use (cigarette smoking and shisha use) and khat chewing among Yemeni adolescents, and to evaluate their knowledge and attitudes toward these habits.

Methods: This school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 13 to 19-year-old students attending middle/high schools (both private and public) across five main cities in Yemen. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires comprising questions/items related to sociodemographic data, cigarette smoking, shisha use, khat chewing, and knowledge on and attitudes toward these habits. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore the most determinant factors.

Results: A total of 7505 students were recruited from 42 schools across five major cities in Yemen. The prevalence rates of khat chewing, cigarette smoking, and shisha use were 42.4%, 6.8%, and 19.3%, respectively. Compared to females, male subjects reported significantly higher prevalence of khat chewing (51.4% vs. 23.5%, p < 0.001), shisha use (20.3% vs. 17.2%, p < 0.01), and cigarette smoking (8.8% vs. 2.6%, p < 0.001). Male gender, older age, poor knowledge, khat chewing, parents' low education level, and parents' and peers' smoking habits were significant determinants of adolescents' cigarette smoking status. Private education, male gender, older age, poor knowledge, parents' low education level, and parents' and peers' khat chewing habits were significant determinants of adolescents' khat chewing status. The participant's knowledge of and attitudes toward tobacco use and khat chewing were inadequate.

Conclusion: The prevalence of khat chewing, shisha use, and to lesser extent cigarette smoking among Yemeni adolescents is high that needs immediate intervention. The results highlight the urgent need to implement prevention strategies to tackle these habits among the youth in Yemen.

Keywords: Adolescents; Cigarette smoking; Khat chewing; Shisha use; Yemen.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Tobacco use and khat chewing among adolescents in Yemen: a large-scale school-based cross-sectional study

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Tobacco use and khat chewing among adolescents in Yemen: a large-scale school-based cross-sectional study

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