When and why Ain Shams University students started smoking?

The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence, age of first starting smoking and the risk factors associated with taking up regular smoking. The study included 1291 University students (861 males and 430 females), their ages ranged from 17 to 28 years. The over all percentage of smokers was 37.9% (52% males and 9% females), and 21% of males and 12% of females started smoking before the age of 14 and 80% of males and 57% of females before reaching 18 years of age. Smoker peer colleagues, high income, owning of a car, and family troubles, using drugs, smoking hashish and drinking alcohol are significant associated risk factors to taking up smoking.