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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Jyothi Priya Varanasi, BA1, Matthew W. Kreuter, PhD, MPH2, Douglas Luke, PhD3, and Charlene Caburnay, MPH2. (1) Health Communications Research Lab, Saint Louis University, 3663 Lindell Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63108, 314-977-4080, varanasi@slu.edu, (2) Health Communication Research Laboratory, Saint Louis University, 3545 Lafayette Ave., St. Louis, MO 63104, (3) School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, 3663 Lindell Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63108
The Surgeon General reports lung cancer is the leading cause of death among women, and approximately 90% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to smoking. To understand media coverage of the health consequences of smoking among women, this study content analyzed television and newspaper tobacco stories from two mid-sized communities. This study analyzed 46 television and 46 newspaper stories about tobacco. All stories were coded for: (1) interviewing and alluding to women; (2) recommending smoking reduction or cessation; (3) identifying smoking-related diseases; (4) discussing smoking health hazards for women; (5) including graphics of women smoking; (6) mentioning research about tobacco; (7) and if research concerned women. Approximately one-fourth (26%) of television stories mentioned women versus 30.4% of newspaper stories. A greater proportion of television stories discussed women and made recommendations regarding smoking than newspapers stories (66.7% vs. 41.3%, p< .05). Less than one-third (28.3%) of television and one-fifth (19.6%) of newspaper stories mentioned smoking-related diseases. Of these television stories, about half (46.2%) reviewed health hazards for women, versus one-third (33.3%) of newspaper stories (p< .001). Television stories contained more graphics than newspaper stories (91.3% vs. 15%, p< .001). Thirty-eight percent of television visuals depicted women smoking, versus none of the newspaper visuals. Television stories mentioned research more than newspaper stories (11% vs. 0.0%, p< .05). Of these television stories, 40% referred to research concerning women. This presentation will introduce the results of media coverage about women smoking, discuss implications for an underlying gender bias, and consider ways to reduce smoking among women.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Tobacco, Women's Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.