ObjectivesTo explore: (A) the underlying motivators and barriers to smoking cessation among young Arabic speaking smokers and (B) to examine the suitability and preferences for tobacco cessation interventions (specifically text messages) and study the possibility of enrollment methods for a randomised controlled study using text messages as an intervention for tobacco cessation.DesignQualitative research using focus group discussions and content analysis.Setting(s)Two universities, one of them is the first and foremost comprehensive national university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The third setting is the largest hospital in the UAE and the flagship institution for the public health system in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.ParticipantsSix focus group discussions with a total of 57 participants. Forty-seven men and 10 women. Fifty-three of them were current smokers.ResultsThe analysis of six focus groups was carried out. Main themes arose from the data included: preferences for tobacco cessation interventions and acceptability and feasibility of text messaging as tobacco cessation intervention. Different motives and barriers for quitting smoking including shisha and dokha were explored.ConclusionInterventions using text messaging for smoking cessation have not been used in the Middle East and they could potentially be effective; however, tailoring and closely examining the content and acceptability of text messages to be used is important before the conduction of trials involving their use. Social media is perceived to be more effective and influential, with a higher level of penetration into communities of young smokers.
Introduction The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced a rapid growth in economy. This growth was paralleled with a drastic rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs); primarily cardiovascular disease, which accounts for 40% of mortality in UAE. These NCDs are caused by the accumulation of cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs) such as obesity, dysglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and central obesity. The CRFs are associated with other factors including sociodemography, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and heredity. Objective The objective is to investigate the burden of CRFs and their interrelationship, and to estimate the association with other determinants like sociodemographic status, lifestyle and family history. Methods Data was drawn from the UAE Healthy Future Study participants aged 18 to 40. Demographic and health data was collected by questionnaires. Measurements, blood pressure, and blood samples were collected. CRFs were analyzed by age and gender. Results A total of 5,126 eligible participants were included in the analysis. The age-adjusted prevalence rates were 26.5% for obesity, 11.7% for dysglycemia, 62.7% for dyslipidemia, 22.4% for hypertension and 22.5% for central obesity. Obesity had the strongest relationship with other metabolic factors. Education, employment, smoking and family history had associations with some metabolic markers. Forty percent had ≥2 risk factors. The burden of ≥ 2 CRFs was affected by age (OR 1.1), having lower education (OR 1.37) and having a family history (OR 1.44). Conclusions CRFs are highly prevalent in young adults in the UAE. These risk factors are accumulating and are affected by multiple determinants. Obesity is highly associated with having other CRFs simultaneously. This should be taken into account in the design of target-group-specific prevention of NCD development. Further research is needed to investigate how the clustering manifests in young adults to prevent the early rise of NCDs in the UAE. Key messages Cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors are highly prevalent in the young population (18-40) of the UAE. The clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors occurs early in young people in UAE.
Objectives South Asians comprise most of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population and face a complex non-communicable disease (NCD) burden linked with dietary behaviors. While past research has focused on disease risk factors of first-generation migrant workers, little is known on the dietary behaviors of the South Asians born or socialized within the UAE, who similarly face a growing NCD burden yet a distinct set of social forces relevant to health. Methods 18–25-year-old UAE-based South Asians who spent at least 10 years of their life in the country were recruited via social media to participate in a mixed methods study. Participants first completed a survey to identify and rank factors contributing to their diet, including the strength (from 1 to 10) of the connection between different factors in jointly influencing eating behaviors. Descriptive and social network analysis (SNA) methods were used to analyze the factor data; all participants with contact details were invited for interviews to disentangle and interpret quantitative findings (analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis). Results A total of 150 young UAE-based South Asians completed the survey (mean age 20.8, 78% female, 48% born in the UAE). Drivers with the highest overall and rank-adjusted saliency were family (130; 90.5), taste (120; 80.3), and cost (109; 65.8). Strong connections were made between ease of preparation and religion (10.0) as well as mood and culture (10.0) as diet-contributing factors. SNA revealed family to consistently be the most central factor (degree: 28, betweenness: 37.2, closeness: 0.03), followed by taste and cost. Of the 71 participants who provided contact details, 11 agreed to be interviewed. Participants interpreted the saliency of family in diet and health to reflect the disconnect experienced by the South Asian community with other facets of UAE society and noted school environment to be a particularly influential yet less prominent factor in the quantitative data. Conclusions Findings provide specific, actionable considerations in the development of nutritional interventions tailored to the underserved, understudied population of South Asians socialized within the UAE, and pathways for further research to better understand these interconnected contributors to diet. Funding Sources The NYU South Asian Health and Research Group (SAHARA).
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