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PREVALENCE OF SMOKING HABITS/PRACTICES IN YOUNGSTERS AND ADULTS AGED 15-35 YEARS VISITING ‘KHOKHA’ CIGARETTE SHOPS IN LAHORE

Muhammad Muaaz Akram, Furqan Shahid, Saadullah

Background: Increasing number of youth is indulging in smoking practices each day despite of the public health efforts for its eradication. Objective: To identify perceived reasons for smoking in youngsters and adults visiting khokha shops in Lahore. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 350 visitors of khokha shops in Lahore. Two union councils 110 and 117 were selected. Total 76 khokha/ cigarette shops in both UCs were included but for convenience 25 shops were randomly selected. Almost 1 hour was spent by researchers on each shop during a day and all eligible visitors were interviewed after taking verbal consent. Data was analyzed using SPSSv23.0. Results: Preliminary analysis revealed tension reduction as the most important factor contributing 66.9% in smoking. Peer pressure ranked second as 37.7%. Mood elevation ranked third as 36.6%. Young participants of age group 15-19years gave higher ratings to peer pressure, cigarette availability at shops, to be gentle man and to impress the girls. Middle age group 24-35years gave higher ratings to reduce tension, excessive work load and addiction. 46.8% participants were found to have begun smoking at young age (15-24years). Nearly 37.4 % respondents smoke 6-10 cigarettes per day. Conclusions: It is concluded that tension reduction/stress relieve is the most prevalent perceived reason of smoking in youngsters and adults. Peer pressure ranked second. Students show indulgence in smoking due to social evils. The employees smoked “to reduce tiredness” and for “mood elevation”. Laborer mostly smoke to “reduce tension" and as an “addiction" Keywords: khokha/cigarette shops, Smoking, tension/stress relieving, Peer pressure and addiction.