Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health

, Volume 11, Issue 4, pp 310–317 | Cite as

Comparison of Personal Characteristics, Tobacco Use, and Health States in Chaldean, Arab American, and non-Middle Eastern White Adults

  • H. Jamil
  • T. Templin
  • M. Fakhouri
  • V. H. Rice
  • R. Khouri
  • H. Fakhouri
  • Hasan Al-Omran
  • Ibrahim Al-Fauori
  • Omar Baker
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

This study compared and contrasted personal characteristics, tobacco use (cigarette and water pipe smoking), and health states in Chaldean, Arab American and non-Middle Eastern White adults attending an urban community service center. The average age was 39.4 (SD = 14.2). The three groups differed significantly (P < .006) on ethnicity, age, gender distribution, marital status, language spoken, education, employment, and annual income. Current cigarette smoking was highest for non-Middle Eastern White adults (35.4%) and current water pipe smoking was highest for Arab Americans (3.6%). Arab Americans were more likely to smoke both cigarettes and the narghile (4.3%). Health problems were highest among former smokers in all three ethnic groups. Being male, older, unmarried, and non-Middle Eastern White predicted current cigarette smoking; being Arab or Chaldean and having less formal education predicted current water pipe use.

Keywords

Immigrants Chaldean Arab American Middle Eastern Smoking Water pipe Narghile Health 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to recognize and thank the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) staff and community members including Drs. Evone Barkho & Nuha Jamil for volunteering their time and effort to help in data collection and computer data entry. A special thank you to all clients who so willingly participated in this study.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • H. Jamil
    • 1
    • 2
  • T. Templin
    • 3
  • M. Fakhouri
    • 1
  • V. H. Rice
    • 3
  • R. Khouri
    • 1
  • H. Fakhouri
    • 1
  • Hasan Al-Omran
    • 4
  • Ibrahim Al-Fauori
    • 4
  • Omar Baker
    • 5
  1. 1.Arab American & Chaldean Council (ACC)Lathrup VillageUSA
  2. 2.Department of Family Medicine & Public Health SciencesWayne State UniversityDetroitUSA
  3. 3.College of NursingWayne State UniversityDetroitUSA
  4. 4.Hashemite UniversityZarqaJordan
  5. 5.Ferris State UniversityMichiganUSA

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