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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3328.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 1

Abstract #118511

Family-centered approach to address tobacco prevention challenges in American Indian communities

Robert Roche, Project Director, American Indian Education Center, Suite 102, 1700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44109, 216-351-4488, AIECInc@aol.com

Cleveland's Native American population was being under-served in the availability of smoking cessation assistance. Until the state funding to American Indian Education Center to implement culturally appropriate program to American Indian population in Cleveland, there were no culturally specific programs of this kind in Northeast Ohio. Adult smoking prevalence was highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives (34.1%). In addition, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among American Indians and Alaska Natives, and tobacco use in an important risk factor for this disease. Forty percent of all American Indian deaths are from smoking related diseases. Tobacco is considered a sacred herb and is used in many traditional Native ceremonies, both religious and social—hence tobacco use is an accepted social norm. This grant—the only one to be state funded implements three types of culturally specific programs. Second Wind and Nati-View is culturally relevant program that utilize informational lecture and participant conversation approaches to discuss tobacco use issues after a meal and in a traditional Native American “talking circle.” Another program is the Five Feathers program, designed after the “Strengthening Families” program (University of Utah) and is designed in a culturally sensitive way to train families at risk about the hazards of tobacco use and to ensure that their children have every opportunity to enjoy their childhood unaffected by substance abuse. The grant encountered one significant barrier. The inability to supply the cessation program participants with nicotine patches and/or gum, as anticipated, affected recruitment and participation.

Learning Objectives:

  • At the conclusion of the session, the participants would be able to

    Presenting author's disclosure statement:

    I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF Grant funded by the Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation.

    Tobacco Control Issues in Special Populations Poster Session

    The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA