BACKGROUND: Smoking among youth remains a challenge in Qatar, despite ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and implementation of anti-tobacco laws. Social norms, peer influence, and stress-related factors perpetuate smoking on university campuses, heightening health risks for this demographic. In collaboration with the Hamad Tobacco Control Center - WHO Collaborative Center, this photovoice study explored campus smoking practices through the lens of students, identifying persistent tobacco control challenges and importance of youth engagement in evidence-based policy.
METHODS: Participants included 22 undergraduate students, 18–24, at the University of Doha for Science and Technology, representing smokers and non-smokers from varied academic programs. Participants learned photovoice principles and ethics through preparatory workshops. Participants used university-provided devices to photograph smoking and second-hand smoke exposure experiences. Semi-structured interviews provided context to the images. Transcripts were thematically analysed, with a participant focus group verifying emerging themes. This participatory design ensured authenticity and depth of youth perspectives.
RESULTS: Results indicate that students recognize health risks yet continue to smoke. Students also show awareness of the environmental impacts of smoking, noting cigarette butts contribute to pollution and detract from the aesthetic appeal of the campus. However, academic stress, peer approval, cultural traditions, media portrayals, non-compliance with smoke-free polices, and social gathering normalize and encourage smoking. Students proposed a comprehensive approach to student tobacco reduction that included improved university-level enforcement, youth-centred cessation programs, mental health support, and peer-led campaigns.
CONCLUSIONS: Persistent societal, regulatory, and environmental factors sustain youth smoking in Qatar. This study highlights the critical role of peer-led future proofing initiatives in addressing the interception of factors contributing to persistent smoking. Ensuring interventions stay relevant by monitoring and addressing new tobacco products, leveraging technology for behaviour change, fostering sustainable policy enforcement, and building resilience against evolving societal influences can effectively reduce tobacco use among university students.