Most Yemeni smokers start smoking at early school ages, said researchers [Archives:2007/1066/Reportage]

Anwar Mughram
For The Yemen Times
Despite warning ads, smoking has increased over the past few years among Yemeni youths and children, both boys and girls, but more so among male youths. While every cigarette pack contains warnings such as, “Smoking affects health and causes cancer,” youth and children of both genders care little about such warnings due to a total absence of control and guidance by the Yemeni family, schools and mass media.

A paper titled 'Influence of Islam on smoking among Muslims' in the latest BMJ issue by Aziz Sheikh and other researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, said that the highest smoking rates in Yemen to date. About 86 percent of adult Yemeni males are smokers, field researchers found. There are 3.4 million total smokers in Yemen, 29 percent of whom are between 17 and 24 years old. According to the new study, Yemen has one of the highest smoking rates in the world. In 1999, Yemen spent about YR 21.3 billion on tobacco, and that number is likely much higher now.

Accoding to a study, carried out by Prof. Abdulla Salim Bin Ghouth and Prof. Ahmed Ali Bahaj in Hadramout University, that Many risky behaviors including cigarette smoking begin during adolescence

“Studying the spread of smoking among the general population is crucial for the proper design of health policy and strategy in any country. Additional insight to the smoking epidemic can be obtained from studying specific subgroups of interest within the population, such as adolescents.” Said the study which was conducted in all the ten secondary schools in Hadramout coastal districts during October 2004 – April 2005 and a total of 317 teachers were enrolled in the study (182 male, 135 female teachers). The findings revealed that about 8% of the teachers were smokers; all smokers were males (prevalence 14%). Only 10% of teachers had received training to limit smoking among students, and 27% had educational materials about harmful effects of smoking. The study concluded that low smoking prevalence, good knowledge and attitudes of teachers, especially female teachers, toward smoking may offer a chance for smoking prevention strategies in secondary schools.

The study revealed that student smokers who saw teachers smoking in school were less likely to favor smoking ban in schools. It also said that smoking by teachers during school hours is associated with adolescent smoking. Therefore, teachers can be credible role models with regard to smoking prevention and they should be encouraged to be more active in school preventive strategies, especially since many researchers have reported that most of smokers start smoking at early school ages.

Studies about smoking among Yemeni children were scarce, especially among “street children”

Ahmed Saleh, a child working on Hayel Street, said his friends gave him cigarettes until he became used to them, telling him that smoking is sweet. “Now, I'm addicted and I smoke 10-12 cigarettes a day,” Saleh said, adding that he can't give it up because he lives with smoking-addicted friends.

Eighth-grader Mohammed Mahmoud says many school students smoke, but secretly in the bathroom.

Child B. M. revealed that many girls smoke without their families' or teachers' knowledge. She said some of her friends got her into smoking, but her family soon discovered her and beat her bitterly, which made her feel the risks of smoking, so she gave up her smoking friends.

A. M., 35, claims that her husband caused her to like smoking because he chewed qat and smoked with her. She started smoking 12 years ago and now smokes 15-20 cigarettes a day, adding that she knows many women who smoke heavily. She says tried to stop many times, but in vain.

She went on to say that smoking no longer is confined to cigarettes, as some women have begun smoking shisha (the water pipe).

Regarding the percentage of youth and child cigarette customers, Happy Land accountant Abdullah Al-Saqqaf said that mostly male youths are the highest, adding that the percentage of children isn't very high.

As Al-Saqqaf spoke, 24-year-old Adham Al-Kumaim requested a pack of Kamarans, but when told the price, he protested the increased cigarette price. He said he started smoking two years ago and now smokes a pack a day.

In front of Al-Wahdah district's local council headquarters was Qassim Al-Salmi, who revealed that he started smoking 13 years ago at his friends' influence, now smoking one or two packs a day. He admits that he can't give it up, although he's tried many times to do so.

Central security officer Salah Al-Sanabani noted that he started smoking 11 years ago when he was just 16 years old due to the influence of his school friends and those in his neighborhood. He smokes around two packs a day, but admits that smoking is economically destructive, as well as destructive to the health. He further criticized families for their negligence and lack of observance over their children.

Al-Sanabani added that he used to run away from school to smoke, thinking that smoking would earn him manhood. He further demanded civil society organizations play their role and work to spread awareness among youth and children about the risks of smoking.

Sociologist Abdullah Al-Mikhlafi believes smoking among children begins by imitating adults and that such conduct is assisted by lack of a proper upbringing, as well as the deterioration of education and lack of awareness in media outlets.

He went on to say that satellite television channels could have something to do with children's addiction because most youth and children imitate movie stars.

As for giving up smoking, Al-Mikhlafi stresses the importance of being decisive because quitting smoking depends on a strong will. He further maintained that cigarette addiction can lead to other addictions, such as alcohol and drugs.

He added that Smoking addiction could lead children to borrow money from their friends or steal from their own families or others. They also are subjected to psychological problems for fear that their families will discover them.

As for the best way to eradicate smoking among children, Al-Mikhlafi pointed out that everyone – beginning with school teachers, sport clubs and mass media and ending with families – should join together to spread awareness and warn about the risks of smoking, which include health, economic and social risks. He added that schools should provide awareness programs for their students.
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