Family-centered approach to address tobacco prevention challenges in American Indian communities


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

3328.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 1

Abstract #118511

Robert Roche, Project Director, American Indian Education Center, Suite 102, 1700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44109, 216-351-4488, AIECInc@aol.com

Cleveland's Native American population was being under-served in the availability of smoking cessation assistance. Until the state funding to American Indian Education Center to implement culturally appropriate program to American Indian population in Cleveland, there were no culturally specific programs of this kind in Northeast Ohio. Adult smoking prevalence was highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives (34.1%). In addition, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among American Indians and Alaska Natives, and tobacco use in an important risk factor for this disease. Forty percent of all American Indian deaths are from smoking related diseases. Tobacco is considered a sacred herb and is used in many traditional Native ceremonies, both religious and social—hence tobacco use is an accepted social norm. This grant—the only one to be state funded implements three types of culturally specific programs. Second Wind and Nati-View is culturally relevant program that utilize informational lecture and participant conversation approaches to discuss tobacco use issues after a meal and in a traditional Native American “talking circle.” Another program is the Five Feathers program, designed after the “Strengthening Families” program (University of Utah) and is designed in a culturally sensitive way to train families at risk about the hazards of tobacco use and to ensure that their children have every opportunity to enjoy their childhood unaffected by substance abuse. The grant encountered one significant barrier. The inability to supply the cessation program participants with nicotine patches and/or gum, as anticipated, affected recruitment and participation.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participants would be able to

1). Recognize the social context (role of tobacco in ceremonial rituals) of tobacco use in American Indian Communities.
2). Identify some of the key barriers to outreaching American Indian communities for tobacco prevention and cessation. This will add to the current lack of knowledge.
3). Acquire perspectives on three unique culturally based program, Nati-View, Second Wind and Five Feathers that take a family centered approach to outreach the youth and adult American Indians in Ohio.

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 commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF Grant funded by the Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation.

Tobacco Control Issues in Special Populations Poster Session

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA