Fasia Basir, Muhammad Sheheryar Khan, Bilal Ahmed, Wasfa Farooq, Rashna Naozer Virji.
The Frequency of Shisha (Waterpipe) Smoking in Students of Different Age Groups.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;24(4):265-8.

Objective: To determine the frequency of waterpipe smoking in students of different age groups. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: Karachi, Pakistan, from February 2012 to February 2013. Methodology: The subjects were divided into two age groups. Group-I comprised of 13 - 17 years old randomly selected students from O' Level schools in Karachi and group-2 included 23 - 27 years old undergraduate and postgraduate students again randomly selected from various institutions in Karachi. A questionnaire was filled with prior consent, basic education on waterpipe smoking was given, and all the questions of the survey form were explained to the subjects according to context. Results: In group-1, 39% students smoked waterpipe. Most students had been smoking waterpipe for the last 2 years. In group-2, 48% individuals smoked waterpipe, majority of smokers indulged in the last 5 years and among them, most were falling within the last 2 years. Conclusion: The frequency of waterpipe smoking in teenage students was 39% and older students for 48%. Social and recreational use of waterpipes is widespread among both groups despite being acknowledged by majority as a health hazard.

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