Meta-Analysis of Four Decades of Research on the Causes and Motivations of Tobacco Use in Iran

Despite the disadvantages and adverse effects of tobacco on human health and the environment, tobacco use in our country continues to grow. Various researches have investigated the issue of smoking, which needs to be coherent and consistent. The present study aimed to identify the causes and motivations of tobacco use in individuals through qualitative meta-analysis. Data were collected by referring to databases of SID, Magiran, Irandoc, Tobacco Research Center of Iran and IranMedex with the keywords of tobacco, cigarette, hookah in a period of time (1978-2018). Duplicate and irrelevant studies were eliminated and finally 92 studies were analyzed according to the purpose and criteria of the study. The findings indicated that contextual variables, smoking relatives, easy access to tobacco, leisure activities, Patterns, social change, environmental stressors, beliefs, attitudes and awareness, weakness of social and religious affiliation were among the factors that tend to be tobacco in Iran. Accordingly, it is necessary to consider leisure and tobacco substitutes management and happiness. Future tobacco investigations should be conducted by the authorities in a qualitative approach to find causes based on social, cultural, etc.