TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence and characteristics of tobacco smoking among female students in Pakistan JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA1191 VL - 46 IS - suppl 59 SP - PA1191 AU - Saima Akhter AU - Hasan Mustafa AU - Usma Ali Warraich AU - Nadeem Rizvi Y1 - 2015/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA1191.abstract N2 - Background: The rising trend of smoking among females around world is increasingly alarming.Objective: The aim was to evaluate the prevalence and trend of smoking among female university students in Pakistan.Methodology: A cross sectional survey was conducted in 5 cities of Pakistan. A total of 689 students from 18 universities filled self administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done on SPSS 22.Results: Total prevalence of smoking was 7.4%. Among them 49%, 13.7% and 37% use shisha, Cigarette and both respectively for smoking. Mean age of initiation of smoking was 16.65 years SD 2.46. Strong relationship of smoking with Friends smoking, relaxation of nerves, parents smoking was found (p<0.05). Students from Fashion, Management and Media Sciences are more frequently smoking when compared to engineering, dental and medical sciences (p<0.05). 29.6% and <1% of shisha and cigarette smokers respectively were comfortable doing smoking with parents. In females who were engaged in both kinds of smoking 52.3% reported use of Shisha before cigarette.19% of non smoker female frequently visit shisha bar with family and friends.Conclusion: Although a low prevalence has noted but risk of Shisha emergence could not be ignored. ER -