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Comparative Study
. 2003 Mar;93(3):418-20.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.93.3.418.

African American women and smoking: starting later

Joyce Moon-Howard  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

African American women and smoking: starting later

Joyce Moon-Howard. Am J Public Health. 2003 Mar.

Abstract

It is commonly accepted that adolescence is the period for initiation into smoking and other tobacco use behaviors. However, evidence is increasing that the set of presumptions about adolescent onset of tobacco use may not be true for all cultural or subpopulation groups. Secondary analysis of data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was used to examine ethnic differences in smoking patterns among African American and White women. Results showed a striking racial/ethnic difference in age of onset; African American women initiate smoking later than White women at each age group. Prevention interventions need to continue beyond adolescence well into the adult years, especially for African American women. Late onset for these women represents an often missed window of opportunity for prevention.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Smoking prevalence for women, by current age: 2000 National Health Interview Survey.9
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Mean age of smoking onset for women, by current age: 2000 National Health Interview Survey.9
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Is child-centered tobacco prevention a trap?
    Bayer R, Kiesig V. Bayer R, et al. Am J Public Health. 2003 Mar;93(3):369-70. doi: 10.2105/ajph.93.3.369. Am J Public Health. 2003. PMID: 12604474 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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