Tobacco use trends among youth in Saudi Arabia: 2007–2022
IntroductionTobacco use is a major global public health challenge, causing millions of deaths annually. In Saudi Arabia, increasing adult smoking rates highlight the need for improved tobacco control measures.AimThis study examined trends in tobacco use among youth in Saudi Arabia from 2007 to 2022,...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1608394/full |
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| author | Sarah S. Monshi Eman D. El Desouky Shaikha K. Aldukhail Abdulmohsen H. Al-Zalabani Mohammed M. Alqahtani Mohammed M. Alqahtani Mohammed M. Alqahtani Mervat M. El Dalatony Mosa A. Shubayr Ahmed A. Elkhobby Mohammed S. Aldossary |
| author_facet | Sarah S. Monshi Eman D. El Desouky Shaikha K. Aldukhail Abdulmohsen H. Al-Zalabani Mohammed M. Alqahtani Mohammed M. Alqahtani Mohammed M. Alqahtani Mervat M. El Dalatony Mosa A. Shubayr Ahmed A. Elkhobby Mohammed S. Aldossary |
| author_sort | Sarah S. Monshi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionTobacco use is a major global public health challenge, causing millions of deaths annually. In Saudi Arabia, increasing adult smoking rates highlight the need for improved tobacco control measures.AimThis study examined trends in tobacco use among youth in Saudi Arabia from 2007 to 2022, evaluating shifts in the determinants of tobacco use and the effectiveness of control measures over time.MethodsWe analyzed three waves of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in Saudi Arabia (2007, n = 2,574; 2010, n = 1,797; 2022, n = 5,610). The GYTS uses a two-stage cluster sampling design to select students aged 13–15 from intermediate schools, with a focus on tobacco use trends and related behaviors.ResultsThis study revealed a substantial decline in current tobacco product usage, dropping significantly from 15.9% in 2007 to 9.4% in 2022 (B = −0.44, p = 0.030), and a decrease in exposure to second-hand smoke from 27.9% in 2007 to 18.1% in 2022. However, the proportion of individuals aged 7 years or younger who initiated cigarette smoking rose from 9.1% in 2007 to 17.1% in 2022. There was a 6.4% increase among female youth who thought that smoking made people feel comfortable across this time period (B = 0.55, p = 0.033), and this population demonstrated a significant decrease in the intention to quit smoking from 65.7 to 52.2% (B = −0.895, p = 0.010).ConclusionAlthough overall tobacco use decreased, alarming trends, emerged, such as earlier smoking initiation and declining intentions to quit among females. Future interventions should focus on preventing early tobacco use initiation by addressing misconceptions, promoting cessation, and enforcing restrictions on youth access to tobacco products. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-48caa23b610d41edaa7f5c798098fb57 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-48caa23b610d41edaa7f5c798098fb572025-08-20T02:37:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16083941608394Tobacco use trends among youth in Saudi Arabia: 2007–2022Sarah S. Monshi0Eman D. El Desouky1Shaikha K. Aldukhail2Abdulmohsen H. Al-Zalabani3Mohammed M. Alqahtani4Mohammed M. Alqahtani5Mohammed M. Alqahtani6Mervat M. El Dalatony7Mosa A. Shubayr8Ahmed A. Elkhobby9Mohammed S. Aldossary10Department of Health Administration and Hospitals, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi ArabiaGeneral Directorate of Research and Studies, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Respiratory Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Respiratory Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin El Kom, EgyptDepartment of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia0Tobacco Control Program, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaGeneral Directorate of Research and Studies, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaIntroductionTobacco use is a major global public health challenge, causing millions of deaths annually. In Saudi Arabia, increasing adult smoking rates highlight the need for improved tobacco control measures.AimThis study examined trends in tobacco use among youth in Saudi Arabia from 2007 to 2022, evaluating shifts in the determinants of tobacco use and the effectiveness of control measures over time.MethodsWe analyzed three waves of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in Saudi Arabia (2007, n = 2,574; 2010, n = 1,797; 2022, n = 5,610). The GYTS uses a two-stage cluster sampling design to select students aged 13–15 from intermediate schools, with a focus on tobacco use trends and related behaviors.ResultsThis study revealed a substantial decline in current tobacco product usage, dropping significantly from 15.9% in 2007 to 9.4% in 2022 (B = −0.44, p = 0.030), and a decrease in exposure to second-hand smoke from 27.9% in 2007 to 18.1% in 2022. However, the proportion of individuals aged 7 years or younger who initiated cigarette smoking rose from 9.1% in 2007 to 17.1% in 2022. There was a 6.4% increase among female youth who thought that smoking made people feel comfortable across this time period (B = 0.55, p = 0.033), and this population demonstrated a significant decrease in the intention to quit smoking from 65.7 to 52.2% (B = −0.895, p = 0.010).ConclusionAlthough overall tobacco use decreased, alarming trends, emerged, such as earlier smoking initiation and declining intentions to quit among females. Future interventions should focus on preventing early tobacco use initiation by addressing misconceptions, promoting cessation, and enforcing restrictions on youth access to tobacco products.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1608394/fulltobacco usesmokingshishaadolescent healthyouthSaudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Sarah S. Monshi Eman D. El Desouky Shaikha K. Aldukhail Abdulmohsen H. Al-Zalabani Mohammed M. Alqahtani Mohammed M. Alqahtani Mohammed M. Alqahtani Mervat M. El Dalatony Mosa A. Shubayr Ahmed A. Elkhobby Mohammed S. Aldossary Tobacco use trends among youth in Saudi Arabia: 2007–2022 Frontiers in Public Health tobacco use smoking shisha adolescent health youth Saudi Arabia |
| title | Tobacco use trends among youth in Saudi Arabia: 2007–2022 |
| title_full | Tobacco use trends among youth in Saudi Arabia: 2007–2022 |
| title_fullStr | Tobacco use trends among youth in Saudi Arabia: 2007–2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tobacco use trends among youth in Saudi Arabia: 2007–2022 |
| title_short | Tobacco use trends among youth in Saudi Arabia: 2007–2022 |
| title_sort | tobacco use trends among youth in saudi arabia 2007 2022 |
| topic | tobacco use smoking shisha adolescent health youth Saudi Arabia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1608394/full |
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