141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

280182
Tobacco normalization and combustible smoking susceptibility among youth in Louisiana

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Iben Ricket, MPH , Chronic Disease and Prevention Epidemiology Control Unit, LSUHSC School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA
Thomas Carton, PhD , Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Tekeda Ferguson, MPH, MSPH, PhD , School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA
Brianna Lyons, MPH , Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Epidemiology Unit, LSUHSC School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA
PURPOSE: Louisiana youth experience higher tobacco utilization compared to national estimates (16.2% vs. 10.2%). Tobacco normalization could contribute to elevated smoking prevalence among Louisiana youth. This research investigates how beliefs surrounding tobacco normalization relate to youths susceptibility to smoking combustible tobacco. METHODS: Cross sectional data from the 2011 Louisiana Youth Tobacco Survey was analyzed, including 2,412 students from public middle and high schools. Susceptibility to smoking combustible tobacco was defined by 3 categories: non-smoking, non-susceptible; non-smoking, susceptible; ever smoker. Six variables were identified as beliefs describing tobacco normalization. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine if tobacco normalization beliefs differed based on susceptibility to smoking. Gender interaction was identified, separate models were computed and a Chow test performed. RESULTS: Among the male population, non-smoking, susceptible students were more likely to be White and see tobacco use in TV/movies compared to their non-smoking, non-susceptible counterparts (p=0.037, 0.024). Among the female population, non-smoking, susceptible and ever smokers were more likely to think smokers have more friends and to see tobacco use in TV/movies compared to their non-smoking, non-susceptible counterparts (p=0.003, 0.023). Non-smoking, susceptible and ever smokers of both genders were more likely to use/wear products from a tobacco company than non-smoking, non-susceptible students (p<0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001). Ever smokers of both genders were more likely to think smoking is cool than students in the other groups (p=0.005, 0.006). CONCLUSION: Beliefs surrounding tobacco normalization differ based on susceptibility to smoking, gender and race. Prevention campaigns should tailor anti-normalization messages to specific demographic groups.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe differences in tobacco normalization beliefs based on a youth's susceptibility to smoking combustible tobacco product and demonstrates that the opinions of the non-susceptible, non-smoking youth differ greatly from their susceptible, non-smoking and ever smoking counterparts.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Tobacco Epidemiologist for Louisiana. I am responsible for analyzing our state's Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS). I have analyzed, written and produced the most recent YTS report. I have worked extensively with this surveillance system and have several publications using this data. I also work closely with other chronic disease epidemiologists and other surveillance systems for Tobacco (ATS, BRFSS, YRBS and CCYS).
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.