Sarah Sayeed, Ph.D.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Based in New York City (NYC), Nafis Salaam (NS) is an innovative smoking prevention and cessation program for Muslims developed by Muslim Consultative Network (MCN) in partnership with Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA). With funding from American Legacy Foundation, NS launched in early 2009 and breaks new ground in exploring tobacco use behaviors among Muslims and their understanding of religious prohibitions against smoking. NS also developed faith-based approaches to educate young adult Muslims about the risks of tobacco use.
Noting a limited amount of previous data, NS conducted a community survey (n=408) to understand the prevalence of tobacco use and cessation knowledge among cross-sections of a diverse community of over 600,000 Muslim New Yorkers. The survey also assesses the impact of age, ethnic affiliation, religious interpretation and other variables on tobacco use and related knowledge and beliefs. Outreach staff administered surveys in a variety of settings, including mosques, Muslim cultural and social celebrations, as well as events organized by particular immigrant groups. Since the program focused on reaching specific communities, including Turkish, Arab, and Bangladeshi, special effort was made to collect surveys within these groups, as well as to vary age and gender of participants.
Key survey findings include:
Tobacco use is a complex behavior among Muslim communities, including cigarette smoking, shisha/hookah, as well as pan/gutka. These behaviors vary significantly by age, with younger segments more likely to engage in shisha use, and older segments more likely to smoke cigarettes.
Women’s rate of shisha use is about the same as men’s cigarette smoking (19.5% and 15.3%, respectively) relating new norms of women’s socialization and reflecting the marketing of this social trend.
A significantly large number are at serious risk of respiratory illness through current exposure to second-hand smoke. More than half of the survey sample reports family members who smoke (55%) and 65% are either occasionally or often around friends who smoke.
A majority of Muslim New Yorkers were familiar with the nicotine patch (64%) and quitting during Ramadan, the fasting month (44%). But far fewer knew about the other methods, including the NY State Smokers Quit Line (27%), one-on-one counseling (27%) or the use of prescribed anti-depressants (17%). Knowledge of cessation resources differs for smokers versus non-smokers, by ethnicity, gender, and whether someone is foreign-born.
Most participants believed that Islam ―forbids or dislikes‖ smoking and an overwhelming majority expressed interest for mosque-based programs such as support groups for smoking cessation.
Findings of the NS study suggest important pathways for future research. In addition, they demonstrate a need for ongoing smoking prevention and cessation education for New York Muslims, as well as targeting specific age, gender, and ethnic segments. There is also evidence that faith-based and culturally appropriate messaging and religious venues will enhance reach and impact of health education initiatives.
Also see: http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/micropolis/2010/feb/08/what-are-local-muslims-smoking/
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