ERIC Number: EJ1296307
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1932-5037
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Health Communication Efforts to Reduce Hookah Use among Adolescents
American Journal of Health Education, v52 n3 p127-136 2021
Background: Hookah is addictive and hazardous for health, but it has become popular particularly among adolescence. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Health Communication Efforts (HCE) based on the KAP model to reduce hookah use among adolescents in Sirjan, Iran. Methods: This was a pre- and postintervention study. Participants were 280 male and female adolescences who were selected randomly from the schools of Sirjan. The educational campaign was conducted for 3 months and participants were trained through interpersonal, group, organizational, and community channels and mass media. Data were collected by filling out a questionnaire (containing 35 questions) by the participants before the intervention and 3 months after. Data were analyzed by chi-square, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and paired t-test, through SPSS20 software. Results: The prevalence of hookah smoking was 43.9% among the adolescence. There was a significant change in the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice after the HCE (p < 0.05). Also, the prevalence of hookah smoking among the target group for those who had ever consumed decreased from 8.9% to 4.3% and for those who used it occasionally decreased from 35% to 19.6%. The windshield survey before and 6 months after the intervention, conducted in two major parks in the city showed that the number of people smoking hookah decreased as well. Discussion: The HCE was effective in reducing hookah smoking, and raising knowledge, attitude, and practice among the adolescence of Sirjan. Hence, this KAP-based campaign can be used as an educational intervention for preventing hookah use among adolescents. Translation to Health Education Practice: This study supports the suitability of HCE as an intervention for reducing hookah use and changing the social norms against using hookah.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Smoking, Adolescents, Health Promotion, Incidence, Knowledge Level, Attitude Change, Program Effectiveness, Health Behavior, Behavior Change, Information Dissemination
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Iran
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A