Study finds 7.5% of Omani male adolescents smoke, over 40% exposed to secondhand smoke

MUSCAT: A study published by the Oman Medical Journal has found that 7.5% of male adolescents surveyed in Oman are current smokers, while 17.6% reported having tried tobacco products, highlighting continued concerns over tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure among young people.

The cross-sectional study examined tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke and attitudes toward tobacco products among 227 male students aged 14 to 21 from government schools in Sohar. The research was conducted between January and March 2024 using a questionnaire based on the World Health Organization’s Global Youth Tobacco Survey.

The findings showed that tobacco experimentation commonly began between the ages of 14 and 15. More than 40% of participants reported exposure to secondhand smoke in both enclosed and open spaces, raising concerns about the impact of passive smoking on adolescents.

Despite the relatively high prevalence of tobacco exposure, the study found a considerable level of awareness about the health risks of tobacco. Some 61.7% of participants recognized tobacco use as probably or definitely harmful. However, misconceptions about the dangers of secondhand smoke, peer smoking and the social acceptability of tobacco use remained widespread. 

The researchers identified social influences as an important factor in tobacco use among adolescents. Friends’ smoking habits, family exposure and perceptions of smoking in social settings were among the factors associated with susceptibility to tobacco use.

The study also highlighted concerns about tobacco use in public places. While many participants supported restrictions on smoking in enclosed public spaces, support for banning smoking in outdoor areas was lower, suggesting a need for greater awareness of the risks associated with secondhand smoke in different environments.

The researchers noted that tobacco use remains a significant public health concern in Oman and called for stronger preventive measures targeting young people. They recommended strengthening smoke-free policies in public places frequented by adolescents, improving awareness of the risks of secondhand smoke, and developing prevention programmes targeting early adolescence, particularly those aged 14 to 15.

The study also emphasized the importance of addressing social influences, including peer pressure and family smoking habits, rather than relying solely on awareness campaigns.

The researchers called for long-term studies to monitor changes in tobacco-use patterns and assess the effectiveness of prevention programmes. They also recommended expanding future research to include female students, private schools and other regions of Oman to provide a broader national picture of tobacco use among young people.

The study, titled “Prevalence of Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoking Among Omani Male Adolescents and the Sociodemographic Correlates: A Cross-sectional Study,” was authored by researchers from the National University of Science and Technology, Sultan Qaboos University, the Oman Medical Specialty Board and Sultan Qaboos University Hospital. It was published in the Oman Medical Journal under DOI 10.5001/omj.2025.86.