MUSCAT: The study, shared by the Oman Medical Specialty Board, found that 17.6 percent of male adolescents had tried smoking, with most initiating the habit between the ages of 14 and 15. Researchers warned that tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke continue to pose a significant public health challenge in the Sultanate.

Titled “Prevalence of Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Male Adolescents in Oman and Associated Socio-Demographic Factors,” the research highlighted the need to strengthen smoking bans in public places frequented by youth and to introduce preventive interventions at an earlier age.
The cross-sectional study surveyed 227 male students aged 14 to 21 from government schools in Sohar between January and March 2024. Using a questionnaire based on the World Health Organization’s Global Youth Tobacco Survey, researchers examined tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, awareness of tobacco-related risks, and attitudes toward smoking.

Despite relatively high awareness of smoking hazards, with 61.7 percent of respondents acknowledging tobacco’s harmful health effects, the study found persistent misconceptions about the dangers of secondhand smoke and the perceived social acceptance of smoking among peers.

Researchers said the findings underscore the influence of family, friends and the wider social environment on adolescent smoking behaviour. They also described secondhand smoke exposure in homes, restaurants and public spaces as a pressing health concern requiring greater public awareness.
The study noted that tobacco use imposes a substantial economic burden on Oman. In 2016, the estimated cost of smoking – including healthcare expenditure, productivity losses and premature deaths – exceeded US$600 million based on purchasing power parity, representing nearly 1% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The research team recommended stricter enforcement of smoke-free policies in public places used by young people, alongside school- and community-based prevention programmes targeting adolescents before or during the ages of 14 and 15. They also called for long-term national studies covering female students, private schools and other governorates to provide a broader picture of youth tobacco use across Oman.

The study was authored by Dr. Juda Prashanth, Dr. Fida Al-Ghilani, Dr. Maryam Al-Muqbali, Dr. Ma’ather Al-Saadi, Shashin Joos and Dr. Tamadher Al-Mahrooqi, and published in the Oman Medical Journal in August 2026.