STAFF REPORT KHI: In Pakistani universities 38.70 per cent male students are shisha smokers who smoke for the sake of removing frustration, 24.10 per cent for pleasure, 16.20 per cent  to gain attention of opposite gender, 12.90 per cent for passing leisure time and 8.06 per cent to release stress. A Pakistani research published in Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing; an international journal

The report revealed that Water Pipe Smoking (Sheesha) has become a bandwagon in youth of different parts of the world; similarly as a new fashion trend in Pakistani youth is also becoming one of its victims.

The increasing popularity of shisha smoking in Pakistan has been estimated from the increased number of shisha smoking cafes in Lahore and Karachi. In the year 2000 tobacco smoking killed around 4.9 million people worldwide and this number is expected to rise very sharply. By 2030 it is estimated that smoking would be the cause of one in 6 deaths (World Health Organization (WHO).

The study regarding the Water pipe (Sheesha smoking) among male university students in Karachi based universities was conducted and stimulated by a Principal author, Sikandar Sherwani, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology. The manuscript was also published in, Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing, along with other coauthors Sadaf Ahmad of KU, Asma Bashir of SZABIST, Haroon Ahmad of PU, Shamoon Naushad of AEIRC,  and Ghaffar Memon of NED University.

Shisha is also known to many as hookah, huqqa, jurak, arghile, narghile, hubble bubble, goza or boori in different dialects and in different countries.

The purpose  of the study is to evaluate the current status of knowledge, level of awareness, attitude and concerning factors of water pipe (shisha) smoking among male university students of a major city of Pakistan i.e. Karachi. According to the findings, a total number of 400 university students were included in the study and 170 were found Shisha smokers, further analysis of the queries indicated 38.70 per cent Shisha smokers university students smoke for the sake of removing frustration, 24.10 per cent for pleasure, 16.20 per cent to gain attention of opposite gender, 12.90 per cent for passing leisure time and 8.06 per cent to release stress.

Moreover, 58.80 per cent acquired this habit in their university life, while 23.50 per cent adopted from their college life and 17.60 per cent smokers also adopt since school days. Regarding medical complications associated with water pipe consumption 47.17 per cent of Shisha consuming students were found aware of respiratory problems, 17.60 per cent were aware of heart complications, while 35.29 per cent of the students responded all vital organs like lungs, kidney and heart equally at risk if water pipe consumes habitually and on the other hand 5.80 per cent shisha consuming students were found totally blind with their health.

This survey reflects an increasing trend of Water pipe (Shisha) trend in young Pakistani students and no doubt, a matter of serious public health concern that would definitely injurious to their health. In this regard, Parental monitoring is necessarily to be taken from as a part of their social responsibility. In addition to this, there is seriously a dire need of strong legislature and its proper implementation in our Pakistani society to curb the mushroom growth of rising culture.

By Web Team

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