Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Intervention Approaches Related to Adolescent Smoking in Pakistan: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The study aimed to explore prevalence, risk factors, and intervention approaches related to adolescent smoking in Pakistan. Databases included PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, and ProQuest. Studies were selected on Pakistani adolescents aged 10-21 years, original or secondary articles published in English, and the use of qualitative and quantitative methods. Out of 1300 articles, 300 duplicates were removed. After reviewing titles and abstracts, 980 records were excluded. The full text of the 18 remaining studies was reviewed based on inclusion criteria, with 13 eligible studies included. Data extraction included author, age, setting, design, sample, theory, prevalence, risk factors, findings, and appraisal. Ten eligible studies reported varying prevalence rates of adolescent smoking in Pakistan, ranging from 09% to 61.14%. Individual risk factors associated with smoking included disposition, mood, and substance abuse. Social risk factors included family and peer influences, including father's smoking status, family members' tobacco use, and peer pressure. Environmental risk factors, including attendance at a public school, school-related pressure, exposure to tobacco use on social media, and lower socioeconomic status, significantly increased the likelihood of smoking among adolescents. Three studies evaluating prevention and intervention approaches demonstrated positive outcomes, including increased awareness of smoking harms, attitude shifts, and increased intention to quit smoking. This scoping review identified the influence of individual, social, and environmental risk factors on adolescent smoking. Educational interventions showed positive results on knowledge and attitude; however, none specifically focused on smoking cessation. Future research should focus on addressing these risk factors and implementing theory-guided interventions.