Hookah use among high school children in an Indian city

• Main Authors: Nayak Prathibha Anand, Khandelwal Vishal, Nayak Ullal Anand, Khandelwal Sushma, Ninawe Nupur
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
• Subjects: High school children; hookah; tobacco
• Online Access: http://www.jisppd.com/article.asp?issn=0970-4388;year=2013;volume=31;issue=3;spage=180;epage=183;aulast=Anand

Context: Use of hookah is on the rise among youngsters. A growing body of evidence suggests that these children are experimenting with this form of tobacco. Aims: The study was carried out to know prevalence estimates of hookah use and factors associated with it among high school students.Settings and Design: This study adds to the current literature by providing prevalence estimates and factors associated with hookah use among high school students of Indore - a city in central India.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1000 students from high schools was conducted to find hookah users and factors associated with its use. Results: Hookah users in this study population were 7.6%. Most of them first learned about hookah from friends (63.2%). They usually smoked in hookah lounges (85.5%). These children believed that hookah was safer and more socially acceptable than cigarettes.Conclusions: Misperceptions of safety and popularity of hookah among the younger generation are cause for concern. Presence of hookah lounges should be a target for further regulation. Prevention activities are necessary to prevent this rising public health concern.