Association between tobacco smoking and different demographic factors among the general population at Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia

Introduction Tobacco smoking is a major global health problem. This study aimed to assess the association of different demographic variables and tobacco smoking among the general population at Al-Baha province, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out among residents of Al-Baha city, Saudi Arabia using a Google Form questionnaire. This cross-sectional study conducted using information about smokers' socioeconomic status, family, and friends. The study was conducted from January to February 2024, the sample size was calculated using the Raosoft sample size calculator, including a convenience sample of 384 participants from the general population of Al-Baha province, Saudi Arabia. Results Most of participants were males (92.6%), compared to only 7.4% females (p˂0.001), and 39.4% of participants were aged 25–34 years, with only 2.9% aged 10 years ago (47.8%), compared to 10.8% that started <1 year ago (p˂0.001). About a third of the participants had income <5000 SAR (33.9%). The most common reason for starting smoking was to relieve stress from work (23.6%). Additionally, 71.4% of participants had a family member who smokes and 78.8% had more than four smoking friends. Conclusions The demographic profile provides important information about the study participants, revealing gender differences, age distribution, marital and employment status, income distribution, and geographical variations. These complexities highlight the multifaceted nature of smoking habits in the population, providing critical information for clinicians and public health professionals to develop targeted interventions that address various medical and social aspects of smoking behaviors.