Evaluating The Prevalence Of Vaping (E-Cigarettes) And Associated Factors Among Private / Public College Students Of Karachi
Abstract
Background:
Modern e-cigarettes are more socially acceptable alternatives to combustible cigarettes among teenagers and young adults because of their attractive appearance, user-friendly features, less unpleasant smoking experiences, tempting flavors, and capacity for discrete usage. But, if this habit continue without supervision, may have deleterious effects on physical and mental health. Therefore, there is a need to determine the patterns of use, especially among adolescents and young adults. This study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with electronic cigarette use among university students in South Karachi, Pakistan.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors with e-cigarette use among young adults studying in Colleges of Karachi, Pakistan
Method: A cross-sectional study with Purposive sampling technique. All students’ aged 16-19 attending college and university were included. A structured questionnaire was designed specifically for the study.
Result: Almost half (n=504, or 50.4%) of the 1000 students used to vape. The study's findings also showed that 41.9% of participants used to vape daily, 32.2% of participants who had been using e-cigarettes for less than a year. When analyzing the relationship between demographic factors and student e-cigarette usage, it was found that birth order (p=0.035), school type (p=0.013), and chronic disease (p=0.014) all exhibited statistically significant associations.
Conclusion: Vaping is incredibly popular with college and university students in Karachi. The prevalence of vaping among these college students is associated with their gender, being born in the fifth or higher position in the birth order, attending a private school, and having a chronic disease. It is crucial to spread knowledge of the negative effects of vaping, such as lung damage brought on by e-cigarette or vaping usage (EVALI).
