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

Abstract #72515

Hozefa Divan, MSPH, Mohammad M Rahman, MD, DrPH, Thien-Nhien Luong, MPH, Aimee Reedy, MPH, and Guadalupe S Olivas, PhD. Santa Clara County Public Health Department, 3003 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128, 408-423-0741, hozefa.divan@hhs.co.santa-clara.ca.us

Objective: Report smoking status and investigate differences in smokers and nonsmokers among Asian subgroups.

Methods: A cross sectional survey self administered to ninth and 11th graders in Santa Clara County schools obtained results from 10,488 students. Prevalence odds ratios (pOR) for behavioral risk factors calculated.

Results: Asians and Pacific Islanders comprised 30% of respondents. Of the self-identified Asian subgroups, 89% responded adequately to retain. Prevalence for current smokers were as follows: Asian Indians, 2.7%; Chinese, 2.4%; Filipino, 16.8%; Japanese 8.8%; Korean 11.2%; Vietnamese 9.2%; significant differences were noted. Few Asian Indians smoked to retain for further analysis. Vietnamese smokers were more likely to be male (pOR: 2.808; 95% CI: 1.418-5.562). Gender differences were not seen in others. For all, smokers were more likely to binge drink, ever use drugs, previously have sex, and be involved in a physical fight in the past 12 months. Beliefs about smoking varied between groups. Only Vietnamese smokers perceived that smoking “makes kids look grown up” (pOR: 3.315; 95% CI: 1.735-6.333), and Korean smokers were less likely to believe that smoking was “bad for health” (pOR: 0.224; 95% CI: 0.069-0.723).

Only Chinese and Filipino smokers were more likely to ever make a suicide plan or drink at school in the past month. While, Japanese smokers were more likely to diet in order to lose weight.

Conclusion: Prevalence and associated behavioral risk factors for smoking varies by Asian subgroups, and presenting data in this manner highlights specific differences for this public health problem.

Learning Objectives:

• Provide estimates for smoking in Asian high schoolers by subgroup.
• Identify different beliefs and behaviors around smoking that exist within Asian subgroups.
• Results influence targerted, culturally specific smoking awareness programs.

Keywords: Smoking, Asian Americans

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.