Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118215

Paula H. Palmer, PhD, Kari-Lyn K. Sakuma, BS, Steven Cen, Peggy E. Gallaher, PhD, Josephine Andrion, BA, MHS, Chih-Ping Chou, PhD, Megan Chang, BS, Yajun Du, and C. Anderson Johnson, PhD. Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, 1000 S. Fremont Avenue, Unit 8, Alhambra, CA 91803, 626 457 4027, ppalmer@usc.edu

Pacific Islander (PI) and rural populations are underserved typically lacking access to prevention education, thus increasing smoking risk. We administered a survey to 814 7th grade youth in rural Hawaii to assess smoking prevalence and tobacco use risk factors. Youth comprised two groups: 60% (492) were PI/PI mix (Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, Tahitian, or Marshallese and PI mixed with non-PIs) and 40% (322) were non-PI. PI/PI mix youth had higher rates than non-PIs of lifetime (29.6 vs. 17.3%, p=<0.0001), 30-day (9.6 vs. 4.6%, p=<0.01), and regular (2.1 vs. 0.64%, p=<0.01) smoking. Lifetime smokers (LS) across both groups were more likely than never smokers to view peer smoking positively (OR 1.63), have smoking friends (OR 3.64), perceive parental acceptance of smoking (OR 2.70), have a smoking mother or father (OR 1.81 and 1.71), and perceive smoking as beneficial (OR 2.34), all p=<0.0001. LS youth were also at increased risk for 30-day drinking (OR 3.49, p=<0.0001), 30-day binge drinking (OR 1.53, p=<0.001), and lifetime marijuana (OR 21.7, p=<0.0001), inhalant (OR 10.4, p=<0.0001), and Ecstasy (OR 25.26, p=<0.002) use. They also demonstrated increased levels of hostility (OR 2.64), sensation seeking (OR 2.12), depression (OR 1.86) and reduced social self control (OR 4.40), all p=<0.0001. The PI/PI mix group was at significantly higher risk for marijuana and inhalant use, more likely to have smoking parents and friends, view peer smoking positively, and perceive smoking as beneficial, all p=<0.05. Findings indicate the need for education and further investigation of smoking behavior in these at-risk populations.

Learning Objectives: Participants will gain insight into the tobacco health disparities that affect underserved Pacific Islander and non-Pacific Islander youth in rural Hawaii. Little is known about the factors contributing to smoking in these youth. Participants will be able to describe smoking prevalence among the two groups studied, identify attitudes, behaviors, and family characteristics associated with youth smoking, and recognize areas of increased vulnerability for Pacific Islander youth. By the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe differences in lifetime, 30-day, and regular smoking between Pacific Islander and non-Pacific Islander youth in rural Hawaii;
• Articulate five familial, peer, and psychological determinants of increased smoking risk in this rural youth sample;
• Discuss four factors that render Pacific Islander youth at higher risk for tobacco use and other substances that non-Pacific Islander rural Hawaii youth.

Keywords: Tobacco, Underserved Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.