Int Health. 2026 Aug 3:ihag077. doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihag077. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Smoking is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite global tobacco control efforts, smoking prevalence remains high in many regions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of smoking and its associated factors in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
METHODS: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025, consisting of 1132 individuals aged ≥18 years selected through multistage random sampling from 12 districts of Duhok City. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with smoking.
RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 37.5 ± 14.8 years. The overall prevalence of smoking was 33.6%, with a marked gender disparity (50.9% in men vs 5.7% in women). In univariate analysis, smoking was significantly associated with gender, education, marital status, employment status, physical activity, hypertension, waist circumference, and body mass index. Multivariate logistic regression showed that gender, education level, and employment status remained independently associated with smoking.
CONCLUSIONS: Smoking prevalence in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is alarmingly high, particularly among men, individuals with lower education, and employed adults. These findings highlight the urgent need for strengthened tobacco control policies and targeted public health interventions in the region.
PMID:42545682 | DOI:10.1093/inthealth/ihag077
