Knowledge toward health risk of shisha use among high school students in Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: The popularity of shisha smoking among adolescents has been growing worldwide in the last decade. However, the vast majority of adolescents have mistaken perception with the potential health risks posed by shisha use. In fact, prior study found health risk of shisha smoking is more or less similar with combustible cigarette. The study aim to find out the knowledge on side effects of shisha in relation to shisha smoking status, gender and school location.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried from April to May 2015 in Jakarta. A total of 1,318 students from 14 schools were involved in the study. To assess the knowledge, a self-report questionnaire was developed with Cronbach Alpha Score 0.828. The data were analyzed by Chi-Square test.

Results: Statistically significant differences were found between gender, shisha smoking status and school location with knowledge on addictiveness of shisha (p<0.001). Non-smoker, female and students from suburban school tended to have better understanding toward health related effect of shisha smoking.

Conclusion: Most of the people think shisha were less harmful compare to combustible cigarettes. Therefore, the health promotion program should include non-cigarette smoking to the intervention program.