Vape as a New Trend among Iraqi Students, A Cross-Sectional Study

Background:The study explores the prevalence and types of smoking behaviors, specifically focusing on vaping (electronic cigarettes), among university students in Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The rising use of electronic cigarettes and their potential health implications are of particular interest in the context of students smoking habits.Objective:To assess the prevalence of smoking behaviors, including electronic cigarette (vape) use, hookah, and traditional cigarette smoking, among university students and to explore the differences in smoking patterns across medical and non-medical colleges.Methods:A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used to select 1000 students from the University of Sulaimani. Data were collected through a self-reported electronic questionnaire (Google Forms) between October 2022 and March 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data using SPSS 24.Results:The study found that 15% of the total participants were smokers, with 47.3% using e-cigarettes (vape), 28.7% using hookah, and 24% using traditional cigarettes. The survey revealed higher smoking prevalence among non-medical college students (55.3%) compared to medical college students (44.7%). A detailed breakdown of smoking habits showed that vaping was the most common form of smoking among the students.Conclusion:Vaping emerged as the most prevalent smoking habit among university students in Sulaimani. While the overall smoking rate among students was relatively low, vaping was notably dominant, surpassing hookah and cigarette use. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions addressing vaping and its rising use among youth.