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Abstract #153395

Larry J. Bell, BSN, MPH, Adolescent Health, Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, 141 Pryor Street, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-765-4155, larryroni@bellsouth.net, William H. Zimmerli, EdD, MPH Program, Fort Valley State University, 1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley, GA 31030, and David Duncan, DrPH, Duncan and Associates, 1347 Kentucky Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101.

Because most smokers begin smoking during adolescence and because there are few studies that focus on African-American adolescent's smoking behavior, the purpose of this study was to determine if a significant difference exists in the prevalence of smoking between African-American adolescent teens living with household members who smoke and those living with household members who do not smoke. The subjects in this study were 585 adolescents (342 females and 243 males) who received services at the Center Hill Health Center from 2001 to 2004. The data was collected from the medical records of the clients selected for this study. The data in this study was analyzed using Chi Square tests of independence. The first analysis revealed that a significant difference existed between the smoking status of the household members of adolescents who were smokers compared to those who where non- smokers.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the current state of knowledge reagrding the impact of parental smoking on smoking initiation by adolescents.
• Discuss the paucity of research on this topic regarding African American adolescents.
• Assess the implications of smoking by household members for tobacco use prevention in African American adolescents

Keywords: Tobacco, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

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.