Tobacco-Related Disparities in Specific Populations

Research

Social and cultural influences on tobacco-related health disparities among South Asians in the USA
Culturally specific tobacco products and a lack of knowledge pertaining to the associated health risks were found to be important factors in understanding tobacco use among South Asian communities in the U.S. Researchers conducted focus groups consisting of 88 adult tobacco users who were of South Asian descent, aged 18-65, and were from diverse religious, socioeconomic, and regional backgrounds. The findings demonstrated that many participants believed that culturally specific tobacco products had beneficial properties, and were used to preserve cultural traditions. Cultural factors that influence non-traditional tobacco use need to be understood when addressing tobacco control strategies among immigrant South Asian communities. Click here to read the study abstract published in Tobacco Control.

Genetic ancestry-smoking interactions and lung function in African Americans: A cohort study
A study published in PLoS ONE provides evidence that African Americans with a high amount of African ancestry have a greater risk of losing lung function as a result of cigarette smoking. Pulmonary function and tobacco smoke exposure were examined at baseline and several times during a follow-up timeframe from two ongoing African American health studies. In order to distinguish the proportions of European and West African ancestry of the participants, DNA markers were analyzed. The results suggest that smokers with higher proportions of African ancestry have increased risk for losing lung function compared to those with lower proportions of African ancestry. To read the study abstract and full article, click here.

Heterogeneity in past year cigarette smoking quit attempts among Latinos
Differences between subgroups of the Latino community have been found to influence behaviors in smoking cessation, a new study reports. Data from the 2003 and 2006-2007 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) were analyzed to determine if English language proficiency (ELP) and immigrant generation were associated with quit attempts in the past year among Latinos. Latinos with poor ELP were found to be more likely to attempt to quit smoking compared to Latinos with good ELP. Additionally, second generation immigrants were more likely to have made a quit attempt in the past twelve months, compared to third generation immigrants. Future research into smoking cessation behaviors among Latinos needs to take into consideration these and other relevant differences within the Latino population as opposed to grouping them into one homogenous community or solely by racial/ethnic categories. Click here to read the article published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health.

Tobacco use more prevalent among African American adolescents living in public housing communities
A recent study by the University of Missouri reports that African American youths living in public housing communities are about twice as likely to use tobacco compared to other African American youths. A survey was given to 518 urban African American youth between 11 and 20 years old that lived in public housing communities in three large U.S. cities. Attitudes toward tobacco use, depressive symptoms, and delinquent behaviors were measured. Early tobacco use was discovered to be linked with issues such as drug use, delinquent behaviors, and family and social problems. Smoking cessation programs designed for this population should focus on changing positive attitudes toward tobacco use and addressing existing depression. To read more about this study, click here. Click here for the study abstract published in Addictive Behaviors.

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Reports

New report on addressing tobacco use on the U.S. Associated Pacific Islands
This report from Legacy and the Pacific Partners for Tobacco-Free Islands (PPFTI) showcases the tobacco control efforts of the U.S. Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI). There are numerous challenges that limit the interactions between tobacco control stakeholders in the USAPI and the continental U.S., so Legacy created this to promote enhanced knowledge or awareness among tobacco control experts and practitioners in the United States about unique cultural and socioeconomic aspects of tobacco control in various USAPI jurisdictions. This report highlights successes, challenges and lessons learned from the tobacco control efforts in USAPI. Click here to access this report.

Head Start Tobacco Cessation Initiative: Partnering for Healthier Children and Families
A new report from Legacy describes the Head Start Tobacco Cessation Initiative as a systems-change model to provide access to evidence-based tobacco cessation and prevention services for low income families through community-based partnerships. This publication describes key elements of the implementing this model for providing tobacco cessation services, and showcases four case studies from states that have tested and disseminated this approach for reducing the disparity in smoking among low socioeconomic status populations. Click here to view the report.

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