title: School tobacco policies in a tobacco-growing state.
abstract: This study examined factors associated with tobacco-free policies and tobacco cessation in schools serving children in grades 6 to 12 in a tobacco-growing state using a cross-sectional telephone survey of school administrators from public and private middle and high schools (N = 691), representing 117 of the 120 Kentucky counties. Trained health department staff contacted 1028 schools; 691 (67%) participated in a phone survey, which lasted an average of 19 minutes. Variables of interest were indoor and outdoor smoking policies, fund-raising in Bingo halls, provision of cessation and prevention programs, owning or leasing a tobacco base, if the school received money from tobacco companies, type of school (public vs private), and school setting (urban vs rural). Only 20% of Kentucky schools reported comprehensive tobacco-free policies. Urban area schools were nearly twice as likely to have a tobacco-free campus than rural schools. Schools that did fund-raising in smoky Bingo halls were 30% less likely to have tobacco-free school policies. While few schools had a tobacco affiliation, those that received money from tobacco companies or grew tobacco were nearly 3 times as likely to provide cessation resources, compared to schools without tobacco affiliation. Rural schools were less likely to be tobacco free and provide cessation services. School-related, off-campus, extracurricular events might be considered as an element of tobacco-free school policy. Schools with tobacco affiliation may provide more cessation resources due to the increased prevalence of tobacco use in these areas.
authors: University of Kentucky College of Nursing and College of Public Health, 40536, USA.
authors: Ellen J
authors: EJ
authors: Hahn
authors: Mary Kay
authors: MK
authors: Rayens
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Rasnake
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: York
authors: Chizimuzo T C
authors: CT
authors: Okoli
authors: Carol A
authors: CA
authors: Riker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000191:economics; D014505:Urban Population