186485 Knowledge, Attitudes and Prevalence of Tobacco Use among Somali Youth and Adults in Minnesota

Monday, October 27, 2008

Diana DuBois, MPH, MIA , WellShare International, Minneapolis, MN
Osman A. Mire, MPH , Minnesota International Health Volunteers, Minneapolis, MN
Kristin Giuliani, MHS , WellShare International, Minneapolis, MN
Safiya Jama , Minnesota International Health Volunteers, Minneapolis, MN
Laura C. Ehrlich, MPH , WellShare International, Minneapolis, MN
Melissa H. Stigler, PhD , School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus, University of Texas, Austin, TX
Douglas Pryce, MD , Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN
Saeed Fahia, PhD , Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Background: Approximately half of all Somali refugees in the United States reside in Minnesota, an estimated population of 37,000. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) project, the Understanding Tobacco Use among Somalis in Minnesota study seeks to understand the factors influencing tobacco use and cessation behaviors among Somali youth and adults.

Methods: Youth and adult surveys were adapted from national and international tobacco surveys. Questions focused on level of acculturation (22-items), tobacco use behaviors (36-items), cessation behaviors (17-items), attitudes towards tobacco use (28-items) and exposure to tobacco use (12-items). Probability proportional to size sampling methods were applied to select schools with more than 50 Somali students in grades 9-12 with random selection of students (estimated N= 450). The adult survey sample was selected using geographically proportional, modified chain-referral methods (estimated N=300). Once data collection is complete (May, 2008) analysis will commence using appropriate statistical techniques.

Results: For youth and adults, the prevalence of multiple forms of tobacco use will be estimated. Factors influencing tobacco use uptake, progression, and cessation will also be identified.

Conclusions: Understanding the factors influencing tobacco use and quitting behaviors should inform appropriate intervention strategies for prevention and cessation. Community-based participatory activities and methodologies can be applied to research in immigrant and refugee populations that are difficult to sample and study.

Learning Objectives:
1. List three strategies for implementing participatory tobacco research in immigrant/refugee populations living in the United States 2. Describe two sampling methods used in the study applicable to hidden populations. 3. Identify the estimated prevalence of tobacco use by Somali youth and adults in Minnesota.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Executive Director of Minnesota International Health Volunteers (MIHV) and have signicant experience planning, managing, and coordinating refugee health programs. I am the Principal Investigator for the Somali Tobacco Research Project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

See more of: Tobacco Issues in Immigrant & Other Populations
See more of: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs