AAPI youth tobacco use: a comparative analysis of current cigarette use data from the Florida, Texas, and National Youth Tobacco Surveys.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to compile data on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth tobacco use in Florida and conduct comparisons with state and national data. This research will contribute to reducing the gap in information regarding current smoking prevalence among AAPI youth in Florida and provide direct comparisons with another state (Texas) and National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) data on AAPI youth.


METHODS
Current cigarette use data from the Florida Youth Tobacco Surveys conducted in 1998, 1999, and 2000 were examined for trends in AAPI and state prevalence rates. AAPI data from Florida's baseline 1998 youth tobacco survey were compared to Texas data after applying a common set of data preparation edits. AAPI data from the NYTS were also compared to Florida's AAPI youth population.


RESULTS
Current cigarette use for AAPI students in Florida was generally below the overall prevalence rates among Florida's public middle or high school students. In 1998, current smoking prevalence among Texas AAPI middle and high school students was 18.7% compared to 19.4% among Florida students. Among high school students, the NYTS found that 21.2% of AAPI students were current cigarette smokers nationally in comparison to 21.7% of AAPI high school youth in Florida. In middle school, the current smoking prevalence among AAPI students was 5.5% in the NYTS as compared to 9.4% in Florida. The NYTS data in particular highlight the magnitude of the increasing trend of cigarette smoking among AAPI youth as they progress through the high school grades.


CONCLUSIONS
Of all the racial/ethnic groups in Florida, only AAPIs did not have a significant decline in current cigarette use. While the Florida Tobacco Pilot Program has implemented many worthwhile initiatives, the anti-tobacco interventions do not appear to have exerted a noticeable effect on AAPI youth.
Kershaw
J M
JM
Division of Health Care Management, School of Allied Health Sciences, 223 Ware Rhaney Bldg., Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA. kershawj@hotmail.com
D000293:Adolescent; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology