Posts with hashtags, such as #hookah or #shisha, on social media platforms may portray its use in an overwhelmingly positive manner despite its serious health risks, a new study suggests.

The findings, published in the journal Health Education and Behavior, suggested that the portrayal and promotion of hookah smoking on social media can normalise its use and pose public health challenges.

A team of researchers from Florida International University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Miami, the Syrian Centre for Tobacco Studies, and the University of Pittsburgh selected 279 posts from 11,517 posts tagged hookah or shisha within a four-day period.

They found that 99.6 per cent indicated positive sentiments towards hookah use and only one post (0.4 per cent) mentioned its negative health effects.

“A growing body of evidence suggests that smoking hookah can lead to nicotine dependence and many other known smoking-related illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease,” the researchers said.

“This study represents an important step in identifying hookah-related themes on Instagram and demonstrates the value in using data from this social platform to complement and extend our understanding of health behaviours,” they added.

The researchers also found that 10 per cent of all posts used the hashtag #HookahAddiction, signalling that nicotine addiction is not perceived as a health risk that would discourage potential users but instead is referred to ironically or as a “badge of honour”.

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The researchers commented that policymakers and others should explore approaches for reducing the number of promotional posts, for example, by creating campaigns to counter-market positive themes presented on social media.

“These findings can inform the design of future tobacco control media campaigns aimed at countering the normalization of hookah use on social media,” the researchers noted. (IANS)

Kerala has topped among the larger states in overall health performance in the fourth edition of the State Health Index for 2019-20 released by Niti Aayog here on Monday.

Kerala has topped among the larger states in overall health performance in the fourth edition of the State Health Index for 2019-20 released by Niti Aayog here on Monday. "On overall ranking based on the composite index score in 2019-20, the top-ranking states were Kerala and Tamil Nadu among the 'Larger States', Mizoram and Tripura among the 'Smaller States', and DH&DD and Chandigarh among the UTs", said the report. The report titled 'Healthy States, Progressive India' ranks states and Union Territories on their year-on-year incremental performance in health outcomes as well as their overall status. The fourth round of the report focuses on measuring and highlighting the overall performance and incremental improvement of states and UTs over the period 2018-19 to 2019-20.

To ensure comparison among similar entities, the ranking in the report has been categorized as 'Larger States', 'Smaller States' and 'Union Territories'.Photo by Pixabay

The report was released jointly by Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, Vice Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar, Additional Secretary Dr Rakesh Sarwal, and World Bank Senior Health Specialist Sheena Chhabra. The report has been developed by Niti Aayog, with technical assistance from the World Bank, and in close consultation with the Union Health Ministry. To ensure comparison among similar entities, the ranking in the report has been categorized as 'Larger States', 'Smaller States' and 'Union Territories'. Among the 'Larger States', in terms of annual incremental performance, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Telangana are the top three ranking states. Mizoram and Meghalaya registered the maximum annual incremental progress among 'Smaller States'. Delhi, followed by Jammu and Kashmir among UTs showed the best incremental performance. "States are beginning to take cognizance of indices such as the State Health Index and use them in their policymaking and resource allocation. This report is an example of both competitive and cooperative federalism," said Dr Rajiv Kumar while releasing the report. Amitabh Kant said, "Our objective through this index is to not just look at the states' historical performance but also their incremental performance". The index encourages healthy competition and cross-learning among states and UTs, he added.

(Keywords: India, Kerala, NITI Aayog, Health, State, Performance, Government, Fitness, Report)

Yusufi was assaulted the same week that one journalist was attacked.

According to his employer and local media supporters, Jawed Yusufi, a reporter for the independent channel Ufuq News, was attacked at 6 p.m. local time in the largely Hazara region of western Kabul.

Yusufi was attacked many times by three guys with knives, severely injuring him. His employer claimed on its website that he is still receiving special treatment at a local hospital.

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The Taliban blamed the attack on robbers, according to a Taliban spokeswoman.

However, according to Ufuq News, the perpetrators did not steal Yusufi's money or phone, indicating that it was not a robbery. The news organisation denounced the attack and urged the Taliban, media organisations, and foreign organisations to "take significant and meaningful actions in favour of freedom of speech and journalist safety."

Yusufi was assaulted the same week that one journalist was attacked and his equipment was taken, as well as at least three other journalists being imprisoned.An inquiry into the attack on Yusufi and other events targeting journalists has been launched, according to a spokeswoman for the Taliban interior ministry in a video message.

The Taliban have often sworn to respect Afghanistan's independent media since assuming power.

The Taliban, on the other hand, have failed to safeguard journalists, according to Hujatullah Mujadidi, the chairman of the Afghanistan Independent Journalists Association.

"The Taliban pledge to conduct an inquiry in every instance," Mujadidi told VOA. "However, no case has been probed so far." The Committee to Protect Journalists, located in New York, denounced the attack and demanded that the Taliban hold those involved accountable.

In a statement, CPJ's Asia coordinator Steven Butler stated, "Prosecuting individuals who assault journalists is a critical measure to ensure any semblance of press freedom in Afghanistan."

He was detained and assaulted by Taliban fighters.International Federation of Journalists/wikipedia

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On December 11, Sayed Rashed Kashefi, a journalist for the state-run English-language daily Kabul Times, was detained and assaulted by Taliban fighters, according to him.

He was filming humanitarian assistance delivery in the city at the time.

The intruders took Kashefi's equipment and questioned where he worked, according to the local TOLOnews channel.

Separately, Mujadidi claims that journalists have been imprisoned in Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kunduz in the last week.

Taliban intelligence agents kidnapped Faisal Noori, a journalist in the northern city of Kunduz, and interrogated him for hours. Noori claimed the event was the result of a "misunderstanding" in a Facebook post, but he complained about authorities invading his home without authorization and treating him like a criminal.

"Journalists have been discouraged by the events of the previous week, notably the unlawful detentions of journalists," Mujadidi added. "Attempts to limit freedom of expression are a form of censorship."Since the Taliban gained control in August, journalists have been jailed or abused while covering protests and other events, according to media rights groups.

The Taliban have distributed media guidelines, which journalists allege are an attempt to control the media, and the International Federation of Journalists estimates that at least 150 media outlets have shuttered as a result. (VOA/PR)

(keywords: Journalist, international federation of journalists,Afghanistan, Taliban)

Women have been impacted significantly harder than males.

"Women have been impacted significantly harder than males: more than four out of five (84%) have lost their employment since the Taliban took power, compared to one out of every two men (52%)," according to the report.

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In 15 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, there are no working women journalists. There used to be 19 media outlets in the northern province of Jowzjan, employing 112 women; currently, none of the 12 media businesses left in operation employs a woman.

The data for the prior scenario came from a poll performed by media outlets and journalists in Afghanistan before the Taliban took control of the nation.

In numerous areas, the Taliban are said to have insisted the local media not employ any women journalists.

Just four months ago, the majority of Afghan provinces had at least ten privately held media outlets, but today certain regions have absolutely no local media at all."The bloodshed has not spared the central Kabul sector, which has more journalists than anywhere else." More than one out of every two media outlets has been lost (51 percent ).

Only 72 of the 148 tallied prior to August 15 are still operational, according to the report.

Only 320 women journalists and media professionals are currently employed in the city, down from 1,100 at the beginning of August.

Hundreds of journalists have also fled Afghanistan since August, fearing Taliban retaliation or the difficulties of pursuing their job under Taliban authority.

The Taliban have released a set of "journalism norms" since forming its acting government in September, including media conformity with the Taliban interpretation of Islamic theology on "enjoying good and prohibiting bad."According to Reporters.

Without Borders, Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that his administration respects "freedom for the media within the prescribed framework for protecting the country's greater interests, with respect for Sharia and Islam."

When asked about the 40 incidents of violence against journalists that have occurred since August 15, Mujahid replied that Taliban security men are being taught and their behaviour is being monitored.

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Taliban intimidation isn't the only reason for Afghanistan's deteriorating media climate. Several media outlets got national and international funding before the Islamist group seized power, but this funding was shut off after the Islamist organisation took control. Their financial troubles have been exacerbated by a lack of advertising revenue.

"There is an urgent need to rein in the spiral that would eventually lead to the extinction of Afghan media and to ensure that respect for press freedom is guaranteed," said Reza Moini, the head of RSF's Iran-Afghanistan department. (VOA/PR)

(keywords: Taliban, Afghanistan, Journalist, Islamic organisation)