Tobacco use among Arab American adults in southeastern Michigan community

Tobacco use is a major public health risk in most of the developing countries of the world. Many immigrant populations carry this behavior to America. In this screening study of 6164 Arab American adults, 1796 identified themselves as either current or former smokers; 946 agreed to complete a tobacco use survey [53% response rate]. The majority were male [80%]; married [77%]; born in the Middle East [97%]; had been in the USA more than five years [67%]; had not finished high school [54%], had annual incomes of less than $10,000.00 [66%], and carried no health insurance [54%]. Significantly more men than women started smoking before 15 years and smoked more cigarettes per day; most women started after aged 20. Early age of initiation was the most powerful predictor of current smoking status [OR = 25.82]. Former smokers were two times more likely to be males and 2.24 times more likely to have been in the United States less than 5 years. Of those currently smoking, 91% wanted to quit and 94% wanted smoking cessation programs. Significant differences were found between current and former smokers and between men and women in this exploratory study. Current smokers were male, in the USA longer, and began smoking before age 15. Men smoked more years and more cigarettes. More rigorous research is needed. Intervention efforts must be focused on smoking prevention or cessation in this and other immigrant populations

Characteristics that influence occupational health and safety knowledge among Arab American workers

The purpose of this study is to examine potential determinants of occupational health and safety knowledge in an Arab-American population. Three hundred unemployed Arab men and women were tested on their knowledge of occupational health and safety by a written test. We evaluated differences in mean raw test scores for age, education, language skill [English only Arabic only, or bilingual], and place of birth, ever having been employed in the U.S. and prior OHS training. Overall scores were quite low [mean = 24% correct]. There were significant differences in mean scores by age, educational level and prior OHS training in men and women. Scores were lower in men who only spoke Arabic, were born in an Arab country and had never worked in the U.S. compared to women whose scores did not seem to be affected by language, birthplace or employment status. Arab Americans job seekers are an understudied immigrant population with low levels of occupational health and safety knowledge. Whereas no knowledge or limited knowledge of English as well as educational level may contribute to lack of OHS knowledge, these are only partially explanatory. More research is needed to more fully understand the determinants of knowledge acquisition, retention, attitudes and skills among Arab Americans