Socio-demographic Characteristics Associated with Tobacco Consumption among Smokers Attended Ministry of Health Smoking Cessation Clinics in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia during 2018

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified tobacco smoking as a global epidemic, causing an estimated three million deaths annually. This study aims to examine the socio-demographic characteristics and smoking-related behaviours among individuals attending smoking cessation clinics in Jeddah during 2018. By identifying these factors, appropriate interventions can be developed to combat the smoking epidemic.

Methods: The study enrolled All the clients who visited the Smoking Cessation Clinics in Jeddah from January 2018 to December 2018. Eligible participants were between 18 and 60 years old and agreed to take part in the study. Data on smoking status, medical history, previous attempts at quitting, and medication use were collected. Statistical analysis, including chi-square tests and p-values, were conducted to assess the associations between participants' medical history and smoking cessation attempts.

Results: A total of 5869 participants were included in the study. The findings revealed that approximately one-fifth of the participants had previously attempted to quit smoking, while the majority (81.4%) had not made any cessation attempts. Among those who had made quit attempts, most had tried quitting between one to four times (16.5%). The duration of successful cessation reported by participants was generally short, with the majority (81.5%) not experiencing any extended period of quitting. Common reasons for relapse included cravings, social influences, mood changes, stress, and withdrawal symptoms.

Conclusion: There was a significant association between male gender, age group over 51years, divorced marital status, intermediate educational levels, higher income levels, retired status, extreme BMI category, and previous attempts at smoking cessation. Healthcare providers and policymakers should consider these findings when developing and implementing smoking cessation programs. The insights gained from this research can contribute to the development of targeted interventions to reduce smoking rates and improve public health outcomes.