The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #54147

Hanyu Ni, PhD, MPH, Division of Health Interview Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, 3311 Toledo Road, Room 2207, Hyattsville, MD 20782, 301 458 4141, HNi@cdc.gov

To examine smoking patterns among U.S.- and foreign-born Asian American adults aged >17 years, data from the 1997-2000 National Health Interview Surveys were analyzed. Of 3,375 Asian American adults surveyed, 80.5% were foreign-born; of them, two-thirds started smoking regularly before coming to the U.S. The prevalence of current smoking varied significantly by nationality with an overall rate of 14.8%. The U.S.-born Asian Americans tended to smoke at younger age than their foreign-born counterparts. For men, the prevalence of current smoking was highest among those newly arrived in the U.S., and then decreased as the length of stay in the U.S. increased. Foreign-born Asian American men who had lived in the U.S. for >10 years had a level of current smoking similar to their U.S.-born counterparts. In contrast, the prevalence of current smoking for women was lowest among new comers, and then increased as the length of stay in the U.S. increased. The level of current smoking, however, was still lower among foreign-born Asian American women who had lived in the U.S. for >10 years compared with their U.S.-born counterparts. Adjusting for education and poverty status did not alter the findings. Attempt to quit smoking during the past year was found to be associated with being married, being younger than 45 years, poverty, and not smoking heavily. Our results suggest that strategies are needed to reduce tobacco use among Asian Americans men newly arrived in the U.S. Attention should also be paid to foreign-born Asian American women to discourage them from smoking.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to:
• Understand the impact of immigration and acculturation on cigarette smoking and smoking cessation among the Asian American population;
• Identify smoking pattern by ethnic subgroup and immigration status among Asian American Adults;
• Recognize the relative importance of soci-demographic factors on attempt to quit smoking during the past year among native and foreign-born Asian American current smokers;
• Develop more effective tobacco control plans for the Asian American population.

Keywords: Asian Americans, Tobacco

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.