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Journal : Symbiohealth

An Analysis of Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Cigarette Smoking: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Residents in Lahore, Pakistan Zaheer, Ifra; Shahzad, Huma; Fatima, Faseeha; Ali, Farhad; Veesar, Attaullah
Symbiohealth Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Civiliza Publishing

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.59525/symbiohealth.1099

Abstract

Tobacco smoking remains a formidable public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding cigarette smoking among 800 residents of Lahore, selected via a multi-stage sampling technique. The findings reveal a smoking prevalence of 23%, with initiation primarily occurring in late adolescence (mean age 19.2 years) and driven predominantly by peer pressure (75%) and stress relief (56.3%). While knowledge of major health risks like lung cancer was high (94%), a significant gap existed between this knowledge and personal risk perception, alongside the powerful influence of socio-cultural norms, including the high social acceptability of male smoking (75.5%) and the perceived efficacy of smoking for stress relief (81.8%). The study concludes that despite adequate awareness, smoking behavior in Lahore is sustained by deep-rooted social and cultural factors, underscoring the urgent need for public health interventions that extend beyond informational campaigns to address these normative and psychological drivers.
An Analysis of Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Cigarette Smoking: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Residents in Lahore, Pakistan Zaheer, Ifra; Shahzad, Huma; Fatima, Faseeha; Ali, Farhad; Veesar, Attaullah
Symbiohealth Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Civiliza Publishing

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.59525/symbiohealth.1099

Abstract

Tobacco smoking remains a formidable public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding cigarette smoking among 800 residents of Lahore, selected via a multi-stage sampling technique. The findings reveal a smoking prevalence of 23%, with initiation primarily occurring in late adolescence (mean age 19.2 years) and driven predominantly by peer pressure (75%) and stress relief (56.3%). While knowledge of major health risks like lung cancer was high (94%), a significant gap existed between this knowledge and personal risk perception, alongside the powerful influence of socio-cultural norms, including the high social acceptability of male smoking (75.5%) and the perceived efficacy of smoking for stress relief (81.8%). The study concludes that despite adequate awareness, smoking behavior in Lahore is sustained by deep-rooted social and cultural factors, underscoring the urgent need for public health interventions that extend beyond informational campaigns to address these normative and psychological drivers.