Impact of COVID-19 on Smoking Behaviour Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the smoking behavior among the people of Majmaah University. This Cross sectional study was conducted in Majmaah city from September 2020 to June 2020. It was an observational study and a total of 180 people were included in this. The inclusive criteria of this study was smoker male and female population. Online questionnaire was used to collect data. Out of total 180, 91 % population comprised of men and females were 8.9 %. The results of this study stated that 88.9 % people were active smokers. Cigarette was the most common form of tobacco consumption, 71.1 %. During the Covid-19 pandemic, almost 40 % of the participants decreased smoking and 35.6 % increased smoking. While after the pandemic ended 35.6 % of the participants increased smoking and 26.1 % decreased. There was a significant association between the current use of tobacco/nicotine and gender, with p value being less than 0.05. There was also significant association between knowledge of severely affect the lung and respiratory system and gender, with p value being less than 0.05. This study concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown affected the smoking behavior of many people in Saudi Arabia. Majority of people decreased smoking during the pandemic. On the other hand, majority of the people increased smoking after the pandemic ended. The results of this study indicated the need of awareness among the people regarding smoking and its side effects so that healthy living could be promoted among the masses. This would eventually lead to a healthy society and boost in immunity of the people in such a way that health related crisis could be easily fought in the future. Covid-19 provided a good opportunity for people to quit smoking.