Disparities

Research

Health education helps African American light smokers quit
A clinical trial of light smokers conducted by the University of Minnesota demonstrated that health education was more effective than the use of nicotine gum in helping African Americans to quit. Although almost half of African American smokers are light smokers, defined in this study as smoking less than 10 cigarettes per day, they carry a disproportionate burden of tobacco-related illnesses. The study has been published in the June issue of the journal Addiction. Click here for more information.

Sociodemographics and smoking behavior among African American women
An article in the May/June 2006 issue of the American Journal of Health Behavior examines the association between sociodemographic variables and smoking behavior patterns of African American women using data from the National Health Information Survey (NHIS). The researchers concluded that African American women in the South were more likely to never smoke and to start smoking later than their counterparts in the Northeast. Positive smoking outcomes were associated with higher education, higher income, and being married. View the abstract for additional information.

Contextual factors predict smoking among African American women
A study in Social Science and Medicine analyzed baseline data from the Black Womne’s Health Study (BWHS) in order to examine the relationship of smoking to individual, neighborhood, and state socioeconomic characteristics. The study results suggest that contextual factors at both the neighborhood and state level play a larger role than individual characteristics in African American women's smoking. View the abstract for more information.

Ethnic differences in predictors of adolescent smoking onset and escalation
A study published in the April 2006 issue of Nicotine & Tobacco Research explores whether risk factors for cigarette smoking onset have a stronger influence on Black versus White children, and whether those patterns differ for nonsmokers versus experimental smokers. Results indicated that rebelliousness predicted smoking onset for Black nonsmokers and that peer modeling was more influential for Whites. For both ethnicities, socially isolated children were at increased risk. Youth who shifted from experimental to regular smoking were more likely to live with smokers, viewed smoke as a means to a goal, and experience few adverse physiological effects. View the abstract for additional information.

Anti-smoking messages miss Korean Americans
A study conducted by the Center for Asian Health at Temple University found that new approaches are needed to target Korean-Americans who smoke. Smoking has deep cultural roots among Koreans, especially among men. Although Korean-Americans have higher smoking rates than the general U.S. population, they have not received much attention in regards to smoking cessation research. The researchers’ findings suggest that enhancing self-efficacy among older and less educated smokers may improve the efficacy of smoking cessation efforts that target Korean smokers. View the abstract for more information.

Effects of acculturation and social norms on adolescent smoking among Asian-American subgroups
A study in the May 2006 issue of the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse examines how acculturation and social norms affect adolescent smoking in four Asian-American subgroups. Results showed differences in smoking prevalence rates across subgroups, with Koreans having the highest rates of smoking, while Chinese have the lowest rates. Acculturation was significantly associated with an increased risk for lifetime smoking for Asian-American girls, but not for boys. View the abstract for more information.

Ceremonial and non-ceremonial tobacco use by American Indian adolescents
Qualitative research in the April 2006 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health examined the role of traditional ceremonial tobacco use in American Indian teens’ lives, use of commercial tobacco as a substitute for sacred tobacco, the perceived safety of traditional vs. commercial tobacco, and perceptions of American-Indian imagery in tobacco ads. View the abstract for additional information.

Beliefs and attitudes about smoking cessation among American Indians
The objective of this study, published in the journal Ethnic Disease, was to test a culturally targeted program called “Second Wind” with American Indians in Lawrence, KS. The program is based on the American Cancer society’s FreshStart smoking cessation program. Modifications suggested by participants included increasing use of American Indian imagery and addressing the meaning of tobacco to American Indian cultures. Participants felt that smoking cessation can be accomplished without discouraging traditional use of tobacco. View the abstract for more information.

Prevalence and trends in smoking in rural areas
Researchers have estimated the prevalence of smoking among adults in rural locations of the country using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Rates of smoking in 2000-2001, practically unchanged from mid-1990’s, were 22.0% in urban areas, 24.9% in rural adjacent areas, 24.0% in large rural nonadjacent areas, and 24.9% in small rural nonadjacent areas. View the abstract for more information.

Anti-tobacco media awareness of rural vs. urban and suburban youth
A study in the Spring 2006 issue of the Journal of Rural Health compared rural to suburban and urban youth in Indiana, finding that suburban youth were more likely to recall media messages about the health effects of tobacco use and to have their personal choice to use tobacco affected by the messages when compared to rural youth. The results point to the need for targeted media campaigns based on residence. View the abstract for additional information.

Smoking and obesity pose greatest risk to disadvantaged
New research released by the American Legacy Foundation demonstrates that the combination of smoking and obesity disproportionately impact Americans with lower levels of education and income. Go to the press release from Legacy to learn more.

Racial disparities in tobacco use and social influences in a rural middle school
A study in the May 2006 issue of Journal of School Health found that among 290 students surveyed at a rural southern middle school, Caucasian students exhibited higher rates of exposure to social smoking behaviors. Caucasians were more likely than African American adolescents to (1) have ever tried smoking, (2) have ever been a daily smoker, (3) have smoked in the past 30 days, (4) live with someone who smokes, (5) have seen a parent or guardian smoke, and (6) have friends who smoke. Caucasian females had the highest rates of smoking, as well as the highest exposure to social smoking behaviors. View the abstract for more information.

Inner city adults underestimate harm of smoking to child health
A study of inner-city adults published in the May 2006 issue of Clinical Pediatrics found that while most were aware of the effects of smoking on adult health, they were unaware of the impact of smoking on child health. View the abstract to learn more.

Females become addicted to tobacco faster than males
A new book released by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that women and girls become addicted to nicotine and other drugs and develop substance-related diseases at lower levels of use and in shorter periods of time as compared to boys and men. View the press release for more information.

top

Resources

Health disparities-related broadcasts and seminars available
Fifteen health disparities-related broadcasts and seminars are available as on-demand webcasts on the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Minority Health Project website.

top

National

CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health announces 2006-2007 National Network grantees
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has announced the following National Network grantees for 2006-2007:

Asian American/Pacific Islander Network (APPEAL)
Fenway Institute
Health Education Council - Low SES
Health Education Council - African American
Latino Council on Alcohol and Health
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board

This cooperative agreement is intended to build on the previous success the National Organizations and the National Networks Initiatives. In this cooperative agreement, OSH plans to continue efforts to integrate the National Networks, Tribal Support Centers, U.S. Territories, States, and other funded projects into one seamless National Tobacco Control Program, all aimed to eliminate tobacco use and improve the health of our nation. Some additional changes for the Networks in this cooperative agreement are greater emphasis on Annual Action Plans being consistent with OSH priority areas and more collaboration between Networks and States, and across Networks.

In an effort to increase this collaboration another new feature is the awarding of a supplemental contract to APPEAL, the Asian American/Pacific Islander Network to develop and maintain a webpage that will be a host site for all Networks to post information regarding services, materials, events, articles, etc. as a means of creating a 'one-stop' location for contacting the Networks.

top

States

Arizona:

Arizona to address the soaring smoking rates among gay community
Arizona is examining the problem of high rates of smoking in the gay and lesbian community. Nationally, 41 to 45 percent of the gay and lesbian population smoke, compared to 21 percent of the general U.S. population. In Arizona, 31 to 38 percent of the state’s gay and lesbian population smoke. The state is about to embark on a study to gain more information on smoking in the LGBT community through focus groups. For more information, click here.

California:

Fewer California women smoking
According to the California Department of Health Service, an analysis of a women’s health survey found that fewer California women are smoking. The report, “Women’s Health: Findings from the California Women’s Health Survey, 1997-2003,” was released in recognition of women’s health month in May. Smoking among women in California declined from 16.9 percent in 1997 to 15 percent in 2002, with education and employment being associated with whether women smoked or not. View the press release for more information.

Colorado:

Colorado nurses surveying young Hispanic smokers
The Colorado Hispanic Nurses Association is surveying individuals as a part of a study by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment to uncover why teens and young adults in the Hispanic community are smoking and how they can develop more effective cessation programs for this population. Click here to learn more.

New York:

Women request most nicotine patches during NYC giveaway
While women account for only 43% of New York City’s heavy smokers, they represent 52% of the requests for nicotine patches during a program sponsored by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Click here for additional information.

Washington:

New Washington State campaign targets tribal communities
The Washington State Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Program launched a campaign to reach tribal communities with tobacco prevention messages in association with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and tribal tobacco program coordinators. The campaign, part of an expansion of media efforts within cross-cultural communities, will feature a range of grassroots and media outreach strategies to complement existing activities in each of the tribes.

During the first phase of the campaign, tribal newsletter and newspaper editors throughout the state are being encouraged to place advertisements that were specifically developed for the American Indian community last year by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and a committee of tribal coordinators.

The second phase of the campaign, starting in July will include sponsorship of community and sporting events, grassroots outreach, and the production of collateral material as designated by the committee. For more information or to receive a copy of the ads, contact Dave Harrelson at 360-236-3685 or david.harrelson@doh.wa.gov.

top

Back to Table of Contents