Abstract
Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is an emerging tobacco product globally, especially among adolescents and young adults who may perceive WTS as a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. Monitoring the use of WTS in Turkey in relation to the tobacco control policy context is important to ensure that WTS does not become a major public health issue in Turkey. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) was conducted in Turkey in 2008 and was repeated in 2012. GATS provided prevalence estimates on current WTS and change over time. Other indicators of WTS were also obtained, such as age of initiation and location of use. Among persons aged 15 and older in Turkey, the current prevalence of WTS decreased from 2.3% in 2008 to 0.8% in 2012, representing a 65% relative decline. Among males, WTS decreased from 4.0% to 1.1% (72% relative decline). While the overall smoking prevalence decreased among females, there was no change in the rate of WTS (0.7% in 2008 vs. 0.5% in 2012), though the WTS prevalence rate was already low in 2008. Comprehensive tobacco control efforts have been successful in reducing the overall smoking prevalence in Turkey, which includes the reduction of cigarette smoking and WTS. However, it is important to continue monitoring the use of waterpipes in Turkey and targeting tobacco control efforts to certain groups that may be vulnerable to future WTS marketing (e.g., youth, women).
Highlights
Tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide because an estimated six million deaths each year are attributed to tobacco use [1,2]
While the overall smoking prevalence decreased among females, there was no change in the rate of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) (0.7% in 2008 vs. 0.5% in 2012), though the WTS prevalence rate was already low in 2008
Comprehensive tobacco control efforts have been successful in reducing the overall smoking prevalence in Turkey, which includes the reduction of cigarette smoking and WTS
Summary
Tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide because an estimated six million deaths each year are attributed to tobacco use [1,2]. A way of smoking tobacco that has been highly promoted in recent years is waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS), known as narghile, hookah and shisha smoking. The waterpipe in particular is widely used in the Middle East and the Turkish world, and is being marketed as a way of consuming tobacco in Europe [4]. Organization (WHO) and other authorities have specified that WTS is a public health problem [5]. Many factors may have contributed to the recent WTS spread including socialization, relaxation, pleasure, fashion, curiosity, entertainment, the introduction of sweetened/flavored
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