Characteristics of Iranian Hookah Smokers Aged 15 and Above: A Primary Report

Abstract

Background: Despite the increasing prevalence of hookah smoking in Iran and in different age groups and genders, there is a lack of precise information on hookah smokers in the country. Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of Hookah smokers in Iran. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted through stratified multistage cluster sampling in five districts of Tehran municipality. Our subjects were Hookah smokers aged 15 years and older. Their characteristics were studied by using the hookah section of the world health organization (WHO) Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). Results: The study examined 316 hookah smokers, including 212 males and 104 females. A total of 49.2% of the participants were at the age group of 25 to 39; 42.7% of the female participants and 25.1% of the male participants had an academic education; 68% of the participants had smoked hookah for the first time in the company of friends, and parties comprised the most common place for starting hookah smoking. A total of 168 (53.3%) participants smoked at home for the most part, 15.4% of the female participants smoked hookah in traditional restaurants that served hookah and 100 (47.4%) of the male participants smoked in parks and teahouses. A large number of participants consumed flavored tobacco. The mean age at first hookah smoking was 21.3 ± 6.4. A total of 59.4% of the participants had no desire or intention to quit hookah smoking at the moment, and 52.6% of the participants also smoked cigarettes. Being male (OR: 2.24) was positively associated with daily water-pipe consumption. Conclusions: The present study reports the characteristics of Iranian hookah smokers. Most hookah smokers were educated young adults, who often smoked at home or in teahouses and in the company of friends. The majority of the participants smoked fruit-flavored tobacco and had no desire or intention to quit smoking. Further studies in this field are required and hookah smoking should also be incorporated in tobacco control programs.