Prevalence and perception of smoking habits among the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic characteristics and smoking status of the participants (n=600)

Background characteristics		Total, n (%)	Smoking status, n (%)		P-value
			Yes	No
Sex	Male	484 (80.7)	150 (31.0)	334 (69.0)	0.000
	Female	116 (19.3)	8 (6.9)	108 (93.1)
Residence	Gaza city	245 (40.8)	58 (23.7)	187 (76.3)	0.022
	North	232 (38.7)	76 (32.8)	156 (67.2)
	Middle	57 (9.5)	15 (26.3)	42 (73.7)
	Khan-Younis	42 (7)	5 (11.9)	37 (88.1)
	Rafah	24 (4)	4 (16.7)	20 (83.3)
Occupation	Government (Non-health related)	121 (20.2)	37 (30.6)	84 (69.4)	0.047
	Student	202 (33.7)	38 (18.8)	164 (81.2)
	Freelancer	100 (16.7)	33 (33.0)	67 (67.0)
	Health-related job	58 (9.7)	16 (27.6)	42 (72.4)
	Retired or no job	119 (19.8)	34 (28.6)	85 (71.4)
Marital status	Married	328 (54.7)	96 (29.3)	232 (70.7)	0.018
	Never married	263 (43.8)	62 (23.6)	201 (76.4)
	Widower or divorced	9 (1.5)	0 (0.0)	9 (100.0)
Education status	Primary	52 (8.7)	15 (28.8)	37 (71.2)	0.369
	Secondary	138 (23)	36 (26.5)	100 (73.5)
	University	387 (64.5)	96 (24.8)	291 (75.2)
	Illiterate	23 (3.8)	11 (43.7)	14 (56.7)
Monthly income	<1,000 New Shiqalim	204 (52.0)	82 (24.0)	260 (76.0)	0.259
	Between 1,000 and 2,500 New Shiqalim	92 (23.5)	56 (30.6)	127 (69.4)
	>2,500 New Shiqalim	96 (24.5)	20 (26.7)	55 (73.3)

Table 2 Smoker participants’ attitude toward smoking

Attitude toward smoking, n (%)	Yes	No	Do not know	P-value
				Sex	Occupation	Education
Did you tried stop smoking?	100 (64.9)	46 (29.9)	8 (5.2)	0.000	0.27	0.003
Did you desire stop smoking?	101 (65.2)	37 (23.9)	17 (11)	0.024	0.037	0.041
Are antismoking committee services available in your country?	52 (33.8)	65 (42.2)	37 (24)	0.557	0.60	0.531
Do you think that schools, universities, or governmental offices are planning to be smoke-free areas?	84 (54.2)	44 (28.4)	27 (17.4)	0.822	0.022	0.0231
Have you recommended smoking to any friend or relative and he/she becomes a smoker?	68 (43.9)	67 (43.2)	20 (12.9)	0.177	0.034	0.701

Table 3 Knowledge, attitude, and practice of smoker participants about smoking (Likert scale application)

Number	Knowledge, attitude, and practice of participants	Frequency (percentage)					P-value
		Strongly agree	Agree	Unsure	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Occupation
1	The main influence for smoking:	75 (49.7)	44 (29.1)	11 (7.3)	13 (8.6)	8 (5.3)	0.37
	a) Friends
	b) Imitating popular figures	37 (24.7)	48 (32)	24 (16)	31 (20.7)	10 (6.7)	0.08
	c) Relatives	23 (15.5)	25 (16.9)	20 (13.5)	47 (31.8)	33 (22.3)	0.010
2	The most influential person who	20 (13.6)	40 (27.2)	38 (25.9)	36 (24.5)	13 (8.8)	0.741
	convinced me to quit smoking:
	a) Religion man
	b) Family	45 (30)	45 (30)	35 (23.3)	18 (12)	7 (4.7)	0.112
	c) Teacher	21 (14)	31 (20.7)	45 (30)	43 (28.7)	10 (6.7)	0.317
3	I accept if one of my family members	19 (12.9)	30 (20.4)	24 (16.3)	42 (28.6)	32 (21.8)	0.881
	was a smoker
4	Smoker is an outcast person in the	19 (13)	34 (23.3)	39 (26.7)	26 (17.8)	28 (19.2)	0.157
	community
5	It is difficult for me not to smoke in	33 (22)	44 (29.3)	33 (22)	21 (14)	19 (12.7)	0.794
	smoke-free areas such as planes
6	I have enough information about the	53 (35.3)	66 (44)	18 (12)	5 (3.3)	8 (5.3)	0.280
	risks of smoking
7	I avoid reading or listening about risks	33 (22.1)	44 (29.5)	31 (20.8)	20 (13.4)	21 (14.1)	0.011
	of smoking
8	Smoking increases the risk of:	64 (44.8)	65 (45.5)	11 (7.7)	1 (0.7)	2 (1.4)	0.390
	a) Heart diseases
	b) Peptic ulcer	59 (41.5)	61 (43)	17 (12)	3 (2.1)	2 (1.4)	0.60
	c) Lung cancer	62 (43.4)	60 (42)	15 (10.5)	4 (2.8)	2 (1.4)	0.45
	d) Bladder cancer	56 (39.2)	49 (34.3)	24 (16.8)	12 (8.4)	2 (1.4)	0.449
	e) Impotence	66 (46.2)	46 (32.2)	13 (9.1)	10 (7)	8 (5.6)	0.311

Table 4 Attitude and practice of nonsmoker participants toward smoking

Number	Attitude and practice toward smoking	Frequency (percentage)		P-value
		Yes	No	Occupation	Marital status	Education
1	Have you ever been smoking?	107 (24.7)	327 (75.3)	0.000	0.000	0.000
2	Have you ever tried to smoke?	148 (34)	287 (66)	0.026	0.150	0.099
3	Have you ever helped someone quit smoking?	284 (65)	153 (35)	0.032	0.022	0.410
4	Does your father or relatives smoke?	270 (62)	165 (37.9)	0.77	0.023	0.804
5	Have you ever hurt anyone who smokes in your presence?	255 (58.5)	181 (41.5)	0.524	0.802	0.277
6	Do you try to prevent smoking around you?	289 (66.6)	145 (33.4)	0.527	0.551	0.369
7	Does violence represent a suitable means to quit smoking?	90 (20.8)	343 (79.2)	0.001	0.048	0.000
8	Do you accept that one of your family members to be a smoker?	82 (18.8)	354 (81.2)	0.000	0.000	0.000