Youth attitudes towards water pipe smoking in Amman - Jordan

Aims: To investigate attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions related to water pipe (WP) smoking among school children in Amman, Jordan. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2006 - 2007 of ten public and private schools in Amman, Jordan and a total of 513 seventh and tenth grade students were interviewed (32.8% males and 67.2% females). Surveys were conducted to assess the attitudes; knowledge, use of, and norms about water pipe use amongst youth, and the data were analyzed using STATA and SPSS. Results: Two hundred sixty five of the students surveyed (52.2%) had tried water pipe smoking before. About a quarter (26.5%) of the participants had tried a water pipe when they were ≤10 years of age. Smoking mothers had more of an influence in attracting youth towards water pipe smoking. Conclusions: An anti-smoking campaign should start at early ages. WP hazards must be incorporated into the school curriculum. WP smoking in public places such as restaurants should be restricted.