Trends of smoking: An experience from a household survey in Pakistan

Background:

Smoking is a social as well as a health problem. Its adverse effects on health are a proven reality and worldwide anti smoking campaigns are going on to curb this problem.Objective:

To find trends of smoking in Pakistani population.Methodology:

This survey was conducted with the help of a Research Company, Gallup Pakistan, on a sample of over 1100 respondents in the urban and rural areas of all four provinces of Pakistan. This sample was statistically selected across all socioeconomic groups. The author helped in question formulation and data analysis.Results:

Among the male respondents, 23% claim smoking a cigarette in the last week. Majority of the smokers (51%) use less than one pack a day, 35% smoke one pack and 14% more than one pack daily. Majority (53%) of them started smoking at an age more than 18 years, 32% started between 16 to 18 years of age and 15% started before 16 years of age. The majority (74%) started smoking out of curiosity and for the sake of interest and 24% developed the habit under peer pressure. Interestingly a large number (73%) of smokers say that they want to quit smoking but only 69% have ever tried to quit it. Those who have never tried quitting maintain that it is a firm habit now (32%), for 17% of smokers it gives them comfort and for another 17% it helps in the digestion of food. A large number (31%) could not give any reason as to why they had never tried to quit this habit. Conclusion:

Smoking is common in Pakistani males with majority adopting this habit in young age. Further motivation campaigns are needed to assist smokers in giving up this habit.