217171 Smoking among single mothers: Results from Tobacco Use Supplement to Current Population Survey 2006-2007

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Lava Timsina, MPH , Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Mohammad Siahpush, PhD , Health Promotion, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Pamela Jones, PhD , Department of Community-Based Health, College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Background: There is a paucity of research that examines the smoking behaviors of single mothers with dependent children in the United States. The objective of this study was to examine the association of smoking and marital status of women with or without dependent children in the United States. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2006-2007 Tobacco Use Supplement to Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) were used. Analysis was limited to self-respondent women over 18 years of age (n=96,007). Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to estimate the association of current smoking status and single motherhood after adjusting for socioeconomic indicators, race/ethnicity, and age. Results: Results indicated significant disparities in smoking behavior across women of different marital/motherhood status. After adjusting for the covariates, single mothers (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.92-2.25) and single women (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.39-1.68) were at greater risk of being current smokers than the partnered women. Conclusions: These findings indicate significant disparities in current smoking behavior among women of different marital/motherhood status. Much of the effect of being a single mother remained even after controlling for the covariates. The findings suggest that tobacco control policies and interventions for women should consider differences in smoking behavior related to marital/motherhood status.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
The participants will be able to examine the association of smoking and marital status of women with or without dependent children in the United States.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a substantial level of experience in the field of social determinants of health and tobacco control and I am the principle investigator of this study.
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.

Back to: 4134.0: Disparities and Vulnerable Populations