Prevalence, and associated factors of tobacco smoking among adults in the United Arab Emirates; results from national health survey

Background Cigarette smoking is one of the major public health concerns and is the primary cause of preventable illness and premature death. This study examined the prevalence, and associated factors of tobacco smoking among adults living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study further aims to study the socioeconomic determinants such as employment, education, and income of the UAE population, with respect to the status of smoking. Methods A population-based survey of adults aged 18+ was undertaken. Around 10,000 randomly selected households across all seven Emirates were selected to yield representative data. A total of 8188 adults (18 years and above) participated in the national health survey. The overall response rate was 87% among adult participants. Results Overall, the prevalence of current smoking was 9.1% among the selected population; 0.8% of the respondents smoked tobacco on a daily basis. Smoking rates were higher in individuals having lower levels of education, students studying in university, and people who had no income. Conclusion Providing data on the prevalence and factors associated with smoking among specific populations may offer an improved understanding of tobacco use patterns, and will help to develop interventions or health-related policies.