Epidemiology of smoking among Kuwaiti adults: prevalence, characteristics,and attitudes

Introduction In 1996 we conducted a cross-sectional survey to study the epi demiology of smoking among Kuwaiti adults. Methods The 4000 participants were selected using a three-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Altogether 3859 participants (1798 males, 2061 fem ales) returned a completed self-administered questionnaire. Results The prevalence of smoking was 34.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 32.2-36.6) among men and 1.9% (95% CI = 1.3-2.5) among women. Among men, t he highest prevalence(56.5%; 95% CI = 36.2-76.8) was observed in the younge st age group (less than or equal to 20 years). Among women the highest prev alence was observed in one of the older age groups (46-50 years) (7.1%; 95% CI = 3.1-11.1). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the foll owing factors were independently associated with smoking: lower levels of e ducation (odds ratio (OR) 3.5; 95% CI = 1.5-8.4), lower employment grade(OR =4.1,2,5-6.7), and being a separated, divorced, or widowed woman (OR=4.9; 95% CI = 2.0-11.8). The majority of smokers (68%) began smoking when younge r than 20 years; significantly more men (70%) than women (33%) began smokin g at these ages (P <0.0001). On average, men began smoking at an earlier ag e(18 years vs 21 years; P <0.001) and therefore had smoked for a longer per iod (15 years vs 12 years; P <0.05); men also consumed a higher number of c igarettes each day (26 vs 17; P <0.05). A large proportion of smokers were ignorant about the health consequences of passive smoking: about 77% of tho se with children reported that they smoked in the presence of their childre n. Almost half (47 %) of a II smokers stated that they wanted to stop smoki ng, and about 56% had attempted to quit. The biggest perceived barrier to q uitting was uncertainty about "how to quit". A total of 338 respondents (8. 8%; 95% CI = 5.8-11.9) were classified as former smokers. About half of the former smokers had quit between the ages of 20 and 29 years; the average a ge of quitting was 28 years. Former smokers were more likely to have smoked fewer cigarettes per day and to have smoked for significantly less time th an current smokers. Discussion Given the fact that free education is provided at all levels by the government, anti-tobacco education and awareness should be included as an integral part of the curriculum in schools and colleges.