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

Abstract #69143

Destiny Q. Ramjohn, BA¹, Marianne Sullivan, MPH¹, Courtney A. Bennett, BS², Joyce Moon Howard, DrPH³, Dawn Dickerson, MPH⁴, Eliza Sutton, MPH¹, and Nancy L. VanDevanter, DrPH⁵. (1) Mailman School of Public Health, Center for Applied Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th St., Suite 1040, New York, ND 10032, 212-305-4104, dqr1@columbia.edu, (2) Community and Government Relations, New York City Mission Society, 105 E. 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010, (3) Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health Division of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 600 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, (4) Dept of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 St., New York, NY 10032, (5) Center for Applied Public Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10032

Background: The Harlem Tobacco Control Community Action Board along with researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health conducted qualitative interviews with Central Harlem’s leaders to understand community priorities, assets, and resources with regard to smoking and health. This presentation will discuss findings from the interviews and the framework for understanding the dimensions of community capacity for tobacco control.

Methods: Experienced project staff conducted twenty-one in-depth interviews. The Action Board and a community coordinator identified key informants. The interviews were audio taped, transcribed, and analyzed for dimensions of community capacity developed by a CDC consensus panel. In addition, interviews were entered into NUD*IST qualitative data software for a more in-depth analysis of emerging concepts and themes.

Preliminary Findings: Major themes identified in the interviews were that tobacco is an acceptable vice and it is low on the community’s list of priorities. The interviews also suggest that barriers to tobacco control are youth accessibility, lack of education about the dangers of smoking, and the dearth of resources for smoking cessation programs within the community. Community capacity for tobacco control is found in measures of community history, strong networks, high levels of communal participation and skills, and a strong sense of power at the local level.

Learning Objectives:

• To illustrate an effective academic-community partnership in action
• To present findings of key informant interviews
• To discuss avenues for tobacco control an urban community of color

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.