communities upwards: Empowering Communities

We propose to conduct a pilot program aimed at assisting underserved Arab American women and their families in California in quitting smoking and establishing smoke-free homes. The prevalence of cigarette smoking among Arab American men and the use of waterpipes in households by both men and women underscore the need for targeted tobacco cessation initiatives. Remarkably, there is currently a dearth of tobacco programs specifically tailored to address the needs of Arab Americans in California.

Our recent project highlighted that while there is interest among men in quitting or reducing smoking, there is a reluctance to actively seek treatment. Additionally, the frequent exposure to other smokers has been identified as a significant barrier to quitting. Conversely, women participating in our project expressed a strong interest in collaborative learning about smoking, mutual support in adopting changes to tobacco use, and a commitment to safeguarding the health of their children. The resolute endorsement of women's leadership by our Community Advisory Board, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has facilitated the organization of meetings with Arab American women to develop a comprehensive framework, vision, and leadership structure.

Leveraging these foundational strengths, we propose the pilot testing of our tobacco prevention program tailored for Arab American women and their families—Commit to Quit. Central to our approach is the training and guidance of women leaders to enhance their understanding of fundamental tobacco health science and prevention methodologies. This includes providing support for their personal efforts to modify smoking behaviors within their households. Furthermore, we aim to assist these leaders in designing and disseminating effective strategies for engaging with family and community members regarding smoking and methods to prevent tobacco-related harms.

The implementation of our program will involve surveying the community to assess awareness of the project and gather insights into their experiences in attempting to modify smoking behaviors and reduce smoke exposure. Our community-driven program, conceived by Community Co-PI Abdelhalim, draws upon her extensive experience and training in community change leadership, coupled with her deep engagement with the Arab American community. The research and evaluation framework, developed by Academic Co-PI Lee, builds on her expertise in community-based research and evaluation. The project is well-integrated into the community fabric through our dedicated Community Advisory Board and our ongoing tobacco research and action initiatives.

Read More at: https://prev.org/project/commit-to-quit-pilot-mobilizing-arab-american-women-to-reduce-tobacco-related-harms/