 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Richard W. Wilson, DHSc, MPH, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576, 270-745-6397, Richard.Wilson@wku.edu, Thomas Nicholson, PhD, Public Health, Western Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, One Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576, and David Duncan, DrPH, Brown University, 1347 Kentucky St. # 2, Bowling Green, KY 42101.
Allen County, Kentucky is a rural county with a population of about 18,000. The County has a tobacco crop and is in a state where tobacco is very influential. The tobacco control program at the Health Department developed a goal to reduce environmental tobacco smoke by restricting smoking in public places. To progress toward that goal, a public opinion poll was conducted to determine citizens' views regarding smoking restrictions in the County Courthouse. Data were collected via telephone interviews. The instrument included questions on support for smoking restrictions in the Courthouse, restaurants, and workplaces as well as support for increasing Kentucky's cigarette tax. 374 interviews were completed, 53.6% of the initial sample. Banning all smoking in the Allen County Courthouse was supported by 163 (43.4%) of the respondents. Designated smoking areas was supported by 168 (44.7%) of the respondents. Twenty-four (6.4%) of the respondents opposed any smoking restrictions at the Courthouse. Women were more likely to support a ban on all smoking at the Courthouse (45.4% compared to 40%). Males were more likely to support designated smoking areas (46.2% of males vs. 43.8% of females). There was a small, but statistically significant ( X2 = 23.7, df = 9, p =.005), association between opposition to smoking restrictions at the Courthouse and smoking by the respondent. There was no association between ownership of a tobacco allotment and opinion regarding smoking restrictions for the Courthouse. An increase in Kentucky's cigarette tax was supported by 132 (35.1%) respondents and opposed by 184 (48.9%).
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Advocacy, Tobacco Control
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.