Abstract
BackgroundAlthough there has been an exponential growth in hookah use on a global scale, research within the context of South Africa is very limited. While hookah use is known internationally to be a health and addiction risk, the focus is on university students and not on families.AimThis study aims to compare the family functioning and family satisfaction among hookah users and non-users.SettingThis study was conducted in low or middle-high class socio-economic status areas of Cape Town, South Africa.MethodsA quantitative method was employed to test for significant differences with a sample of 1193 participants, in which each participant represented a family. An independent t-test was used to test for significant differences between hookah users and non-users.ResultsOne-third (34%) of the participants indicated that they smoked hookah pipe, with the general age of onset being 16.5 years. In trying to understand the family context, it was found that 28% of hookah users indicated that the hookah pipe was used as a means of socialising with others in the family, and 24% of parents indicated that they were more accepting of family members smoking the hookah pipe. Findings also suggest that families of hookah users have less cohesion, expressiveness and family satisfaction, and more conflict and permissiveness than families of non-users.ConclusionThis study provides and extends knowledge regarding the family in hookah pipe use. This information could assist in reducing hookah pipe use, and building healthier and more resilient communities by formulating prevention and intervention strategies to reduce hookah use
Highlights
Hookah pipe is understood to be a cultural or traditional phenomenon[1] as it has originally stemmed from Middle Eastern countries and is rooted in certain cultures.[2]
According to a review conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO),[1] studies focusing on hookah pipe have been mainly conducted among university students, the health risks of using hookah pipe and the prevalence of using hookah pipe across the world
The current study found that 34% of participants indicated smoking of hookah pipe in which the age of onset was 16.5 years ( X = 16.48)
Summary
Hookah pipe is understood to be a cultural or traditional phenomenon[1] as it has originally stemmed from Middle Eastern countries and is rooted in certain cultures.[2]. Studies on hookah pipe consider it to be a health hazard and public health concern[7,8] and view it as a gateway for other substances.[8,9] There has been an exponential growth in its use on a global scale[10] with hookah popularity and social acceptance being attributed to the factors such as easy availability, attractive designs and various flavoured fragrant tobacco variants used in hookahs, called maassel.[10,11]. The prevalence of using hookah among university students has steadily increased globally over the past 10 years, especially amongst western countries.[12,13,14] The health risks identified included, amongst others, different forms of cancer, tuberculosis, lung diseases and heart disease. While hookah use is known internationally to be a health and addiction risk, the focus is on university students and not on families
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