QUALITATIVE SURVEY ON THE FACTORS AFFECTING TENDENCY TO HOOKAH USAGE IN HORMOZGAN PROVINCE AND APPROPRIATE CAMPAIGN METHODS AGAINST IT

The use of the hookah water pipe has increased in the past few years, especially among younger age groups of Hormozgan Province of Persian Gulf littoral. Hookah smoking, which is popular in Hormozgan Province, has a prevalence rate of 18.8% in the 15-and-over age group. Objectives of this study were to assess the public opinion in Hormozgan about the predisposing factors to the use of hookah in high-risk groups and its hazards on human health. In addition, this study sought the appropriate proposed methods that could be used in campaigns against hookah usage. This qualitative study was conducted as a focus group discussion. Eighteen groups of people, each consisting of 8 – 10 individuals comprised of males and females from rural and urban areas, community health workers and well-distinguished people in the area participated in the study. This study illustrated that hookah smoking usually occurs in social meetings and is considered a cultural behavior. Relative cheapness, availability and absence of health education programs against hookah are predisposing factors for the use of hookah. Hookah smoking is more frequent in urban areas, especially among females. Males usually use hookah after middle age. Adolescents have a high tendency to use newly provided tobacco, which has been fortified by a fruity extract. Hazards of hookah are not clear to the residents of Hormozgan Province. Appropriate educational programs and their proposed target audiences are: television programs informing Sunni Moslems via mosques; improving family knowledge by educating mothers; health education in schools as a prevention method for adolescents, and, finally, boosting the role of health personnel to advise the general public to quit hookah smoking. Based on the results of this study, quitting hookah smoking should be regarded as a group activity. Combating drug abuse is an urgent need in the area that ought to be addressed by provincial authorities.