Cigarette smoking dose-response and suicidal ideation among young people in Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Brijesh Sathian, Hamad General Hospital; Ritesh G Menezes, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University; Mohammad Asim, Hamad General Hospital; Ahammed Mekkodathil, Hamad General Hospital; Jayadevan Sreedharan, Gulf Medical University; Indrajit Banerjee, SSR Medical College Mauritius.; Edwin R van Teijlingen, Bournemouth University.; Bedanta Roy, Quest International University Perak; Supram Hosuru Subramanya, Manipal College of Medical Sciences; Magdy A Kharoshah, Forensic Medicine Centre, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.; Elayedath Rajesh, Mahatma Gandhi University, India.; Ulasa Shetty, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore, India.; M Arun, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysore, India.; Pradhum Ram, Emory University; Vinod K Srivastava, Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-03
• Publisher: Emory University Libraries
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 CEA& INEA
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nje.v10i1.28277
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Nepal J Epidemiol
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 821
• End Page: 829
• Grant/Funding Information: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sector.
• Keywords: South Asia; Mental health; Smoking; Suicidal ideation; Tobacco; Youth
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for morbidity and early mortality among adult population. The present study aimed to find out the association between current smoking and suicidal ideation among young people in Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was carried out among 452 youths from Pokhara, Nepal. The present study included both genders (age 18-24 years) who were smokers as well as non-smokers. RESULTS: Across the study period, 452 participants were identified after matching for age, and sex (226 in the smoking group and 226 in the non-smoking group). The mean age of participants was 21.6±1.2 years and 58.8% were males. The overall rate of suicidal ideation in our cohort was 8.9%. Smokers were slightly more likely to report suicidal ideation than non-smokers (aOR 1.12). The risk of developing suicidal ideation was 3.56 (95% CI 1.26-10.09) times more in individuals who smoked greater than 3.5 cigarettes per week (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: The rate of suicidal ideation was slightly higher among smokers and a dose-response relationship was identified with the number of cigarettes smoked per week. Being aware of the link between smoking and suicidal ideation may help health care professionals working with young people to address more effectively the issues of mental well-being and thoughts about suicide.