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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Anna B. Flynn, MHS, Department of Health Services, State of California, P.O. Box 997413, MS 7002, Sacramento, CA 95899, (916) 446-2254, aflynn@dhs.ca.gov

In order to address a gap in qualitative research on tobacco use in Turkey, I investigated Turkish university students' experiences with smoking. Using qualitative research methods, I gathered data with the objective of building knowledge about informants' smoking behavior and attitudes, beliefs and perceptions tobacco use. Eleven in-depth interviews and 3 focus groups were conducted with university students in Ankara who were habitual smokers. When informants talked about their experiences with smoking cigarettes, they described different stages of use: an extended period of experimentation and subsequent habitual smoking. Informants described being ashamed in the event of a teacher or other respected elder seeing them smoke. Students described women's smoking as being a complicated, culturally charged issue in Turkey. Women who smoke while walking down the street are seen as "bad girls" and "prostitutes." Interestingly, the rate of smoking among Turkish women continues to rise. Quantitative studies establishing age of smoking uptake do not adequately describe the age range in which children are at risk. While my informants often cited a young age at which they smoked their first cigarette (13-14 years old), they often then went years without smoking again and took up the habit in earnest later in high school (17-18 years old). This finding, in addition to those regarding respect for elders and cultural attitudes towards women's smoking, have implications for designing effective smoking prevention programs targeting multiple age and gender groups.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, the participant will be able to

• Describe 3 important factors in Turkish university students' experiences with smoking.
• Recognize the gaps between previous quantitative data and findings from this qualitative investigation.
• Evaluate these findings in terms of designing smoking prevention programs targeting Turkish youth.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered