Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase
311012
Color of Smoke: The Experience of African Americans and Latinos with Tobacco and Discrimination
Sunday, November 16, 2014
James Butler III, DrPH, MEd
,
Department of Behavioral & Community Health, University of Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Kevin H. Kim, PhD
,
Department of Psychology in Education, University of Pittsburgh, School of Education, Pittsburgh, PA
Mary A. Garza, PhD, MPH
,
Department of Behavioral and Community Health, Maryland Center for Health Equity, School of Public Health, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD
Stephen B. Thomas, PhD, FAAHB
,
Department of Health Services Administration, Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Sandra C. Quinn, PhD
,
Department of Family Science, University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD
BACKGROUND: Tobacco-related racial and ethnic health disparities continue to persist in the United States. While a number of sociodemographic mechanisms have been identified as important dynamics in the perpetuation of health disparities (e.g., SES, access to healthcare, and education), these factors do not comprehensively explain the experiences of minority tobacco users. METHODS: We conducted a national, random household telephone survey of 2,455 African Americans (n=1191) and Latinos (n=1264). The survey included multiple standardized instruments to assess a range of topics, including but not limited to, health status, tobacco use, and experiences with discrimination. RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of African Americans and 13% of Latinos were current tobacco users. Greater experiences with discrimination were associated with risky behavior and poorer health. For example, Latinos were 1.6 times more likely (p<.001) to be a current tobacco user for each unit increase in their experiences with discrimination. Moreover, with greater experiences with discrimination, both African Americans and Latinos were 1.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with asthma and lung disease (p<.01) or another medical condition (p<.001). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is one of the few studies to examine the relationship between race, ethnicity, and discrimination on the health of both African American and Latino tobacco users. A better understanding of the socioenvironmental interaction of race, ethnicity, and discrimination and its physiological influences on the two largest minority groups in the United States is integral in the elimination of tobacco-related health disparities.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe two important differences between African American and Latino adult tobacco users and their experiences with discrimination;
Identify the race and discrimination interaction influence on the health status of African American and Latino tobacco users.
Keyword(s): Health Disparities/Inequities, Tobacco Use
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal investigator or co-investigator of multiple federally funded grants focused on youth and young adult tobacco prevention, cessation, and dependence. Among my scientific interests are the intersection of tobacco and marijuana use and the utilization of mixed methods research in tobacco control. Additionally, I have been co-investigator on several NIH-funded grants examining racial and ethnic health disparities and the respectful recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
