Young Women's Perspectives About Vaping: A Cross Sectional Study from Jordan.

Abstract

Vaping has become very popular among young generations in Jordan. However, less is known about women's awareness and intention to vape. The aim of this study is to assess women's knowledge and beliefs about vaping, with a focus on vaping women's attitudes and practices. This is an observational cross-sectional study. Data were collected from January through March 2024, by using a self-administrated survey inspired from the WHO GATS questionnaire. Among the 923 participating women, 12.4% were vaping. We observed significant variations in knowledge and beliefs among women. Vaping women have a substantially younger age than non-vaping. 57% of vaping women think that vape is safer to use than cigarettes compared to 14% of non-vaping. 61% of vaping women believed that vaping helps to quit cigarette smoking compared to 24% of non-vaping. Vaping women tended to underestimate the health risks associated with it compared to non-vaping women. They are also supporting legislations that allow vaping indoors and in public places. Women vape primarily for enjoyment, to cope with stress, to pass free time, and to hang out with friends. Luckily, many of them believed that smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory ailments and limited life expectancy, which supports their future quitting plans. This study revealed misconceptions and knowledge gaps around vaping among women. Emotional demands and social interactions influenced women's vaping use in Jordan, highlighting the need for targeted public health education and legislative measures to promote women's health.