African American women and smoking: starting later.
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.
Moon-Howard
Joyce
J
Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Center for Applied Public Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. jmh7@columbia.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*