The urban poor's economic profile of tobacco use

Abstract

Objectives: Low-income minority tobacco users are price sensitive and are more likely to quit when tobacco prices go up. No prior research documents economic characteristics of low-income tobacco users. The study investigates economic profile of tobacco use among urban low-income African Americans.

Methods: In this baseline study (n = 338), tobacco users and nonusers were compared, and their economic conditions of tobacco use including (current and past) employment barriers were examined.

Results: The study results demonstrate that tobacco use status appeared to be associated with employment barriers among low income populations. Controlling for other independent variables in the multivariate logistic regression model, previous criminal activity, planning to move out, and female gender were found to be linked to labor force status.

Conclusions: More research efforts on how indigent tobacco-using individuals develop their employment skills and become economically independent are needed.