Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Smoking Hookah and Exacerbation of COVID-۱۹ Symptoms Among Women: A Web-Based Cross-sectional Study

Background: Smoking hookah during the coronavirus disease ۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) pandemic is a dangerous factor which could exacerbate the symptoms of the illness. The present study aimed at determining the relationship between knowledge and attitudes toward the negative effects of smoking hookah on the exacerbation of COVID-۱۹ symptoms and the role of some effective socio-demographic factors.Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted (February ۲۰۲۱ to April ۲۰۲۱) among ۹۳۳ women over the age of ۱۵ who smoked hookah in Hormozgan province. A self-made questionnaire was completed by women after its preparation and online checking of its validity and reliability.Results: The mean and standard deviation of knowledge and attitude scores were ۵.۱۳ ± ۲.۱۹ and ۲۵.۲۰ ± ۴.۷۵, respectively. In this study, ۶۵% of the subjects had adequate knowledge and ۴۸.۷% had a positive attitude. However, the predictors of adequate knowledge were: subjects aged over ۵۰ compared to those aged ۳۵-۵۰ years [۱.۹۷۵ (۱.۰۲۹-۳.۷۹۴)], subjects with university degrees compared to those with primary school, high school or diploma degrees [۲.۴۴۵ (۱.۴۷۶-۴.۰۴۹)], [۵.۵۰۸ (۳.۳۰۵-۹.۱۷۸)], [۳.۹۹۱ (۱.۹۸۱-۸.۰۴۲)], subjects with good economic status compared to those with poor economic status [۱.۹۶۶ (۱.۲۱۸-۳.۱۷۵)], and age of onset of smoking hookah after ۳۰ compared to the onset age between ۱۵ and ۳۰ as well as below ۱۵ [۲.۵۶۳ (۱.۰۳۰-۶.۳۷۹)], [۶.۳۰۸ (۲.۲۴۹-۱۷.۶۹۳)]. There was no statistically significant relationship between any of the demographic factors and attitudes.Conclusion: In general, increasing knowledge and changing attitudes about the relationship between smoking hookah and exacerbation of the COVID-۱۹ symptoms can be an effective step in reducing hookah use during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. These findings can provide policymakers with valuable insights and information on the importance of community-wide training programs.

Keywords:

Knowledge , Attitude , Tobacco , Hookah