Factors associated with the prevalence of tobacco use among students of Qayenat County Faculty of Medical Sciences

Introduction Given the importance of assessing cigarette and hookah use during university life, the pivotal role of students in the country’s future, and the varying reports on the prevalence of tobacco consumption among them, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and its associated factors among students. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study included 300 students from the Qayenat Faculty of Medical Sciences, selected by stratified random sampling during the second semester of the 2023–2024 academic years. Data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire comprising two sections: demographic and background characteristics, and tobacco use status. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23, applying descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. Results The prevalence of tobacco use among participating students was 32% (n = 96). Among the respondents, 13.3% (n = 40) reported cigarette smoking, 9.3% (n = 28) reported hookah use, 5.3% (n = 16) reported Chewing tobacco use, and 4% (n = 12) reported pipe smoking. Statistically significant relationships were observed between tobacco use and the following variables: academic year, physical activity, having close friends who smoke, mother’s educational level, and place of residence. Conclusion Tobacco use was more prevalent among students with advanced academic years, lower levels of physical activity, friends who use tobacco, mothers with lower educational attainment, and those residing in dormitories. These findings suggest that targeted preventive interventions should focus on these high-risk groups in the design of educational programs to reduce tobacco use among university students.