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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2005 Oct;29(3):218-20.
doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2005.05.004.

Cigarette smoking among low-income African Americans: a serious public health problem

Jorge Delva  1 , Marisol Tellez, Tracy L Finlayson, Kimberlee A Gretebeck, Kristine Siefert, David R Williams, Amid I Ismail
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Cigarette smoking among low-income African Americans: a serious public health problem

Jorge Delva et al. Am J Prev Med. 2005 Oct.

Abstract

Background: This study examines the current prevalence of cigarette smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked in a community-based sample of 1021 low-income African-American men and women.

Methods: Participants were selected using a two-stage, area probability sample design. Data were collected in 2002-2003 in face-to-face interviews and analyzed in 2005. All data and analyses were weighted to account for the complex sampling design.

Results: Fifty-nine percent of men and 41% of women were current smokers, with younger individuals apparently initiating smoking at an earlier age than older individuals.

Conclusions: The high prevalence of cigarette use provides further evidence that the excess burden of tobacco-related disease among low-income African-American families may be on the rise. This is of great concern, and if confirmed by further research, indicates an urgent need for preventive intervention.

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References

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