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Abstract #158294

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Neetu Chawla, MPH¹, Beth Glenn, PhD¹, Zul H. Surani, BS², Minal Patel, MPH¹, and Roshan Bastani, PhD¹. (1) UCLA School of Public Health, Department of Health Services, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, 650 Charles Young Drive South A2-125 CHS, Box 956900, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6900, (310) 825-7430, nchawla@ucla.edu, (2) South Asian Network 18173 S. Pioneer Blvd. Suite I, 2nd Floor Artesia, CA 90701, Saath/Special Service for Groups, 605 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 600, 1441 Eastlake Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90015

Tobacco use is one of the central risk factors for many leading chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, lung and oral cancers, and stroke. Previous research has shown that, while South Asians living outside their countries of origin tend to have lower rates of smoking than the general population, they have higher rates of smokeless tobacco product use (paan, supari, tambaku, and gutka). Data were collected from a convenience sample of 344 South Asian adults in Southern California, representing five South Asian countries with substantial portions from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Although the overall rate of current smoking (9%) was below observed rates in the general U.S. population, 28% reported current use of one or more smokeless tobacco products. The most commonly used products were: paan masala (22.9%), paan (14.4%), supari (11.5%), and paan parag (15.6%). Rates of paan masala use were significantly higher among Pakistanis (54.22%), whereas rates of paan (29.0%) and supari (23.2%) use were significantly higher among Bangladeshis compared to other South Asian groups.

Multivariate logistic regression results indicated that South Asian ethnicity, health status, and gender significantly predicted use of smokeless tobacco products after accounting for sociodemographic variables (years in US, age, income, and education). Multivariate results showed that Bangladeshis (OR=2.3; p=0.036) and those in poor health (OR=7.6; p=0.002) were significantly more likely to report smokeless tobacco product use. Women (OR=0.47; p=0.02) and Sri Lankans (OR=0.19; p=0.039) were significantly less likely to report use. These findings are informative for designing tobacco control services targeting South Asian Americans.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe rates of tobacco use and identify commonly used smokeless tobacco products among South Asian Americans
• To determine which South Asian groups should be targeted by smoking and tobacco cessation interventions

Keywords: Asian Americans, Tobacco

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.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout