The influence of the American environment on cigarette smoking among the immigrants from the former Yugoslavia.
OBJECTIVE
We tested the hypothesis that the American environment influences the immigrants from developing countries with high incidence of smokers to quit smoking.


METHODS
The sample included 218 immigrants who came as adults from the former Yugoslavia. A total of 275 persons were randomly selected, and the overall study response was 79.2%. The survey included questions about current smoking, smoking history, and demographic data, such as year of immigration to the USA, education, and employment status.


RESULTS
Upon their arrival, 34.8% of the adult Yugoslav immigrants were smokers; now 20.2% of these immigrants smoke(p<0.001). Smoking prevalence for women was 9.1% higher than for men. The number of cigarettes that men and women smoke per day was similar.


CONCLUSIONS
For an immigrant smoker, the best chance of quitting smoking was within 5 years of acculturation. The local media in their languages may provide the best health education to immigrants, including information on the effects of cigarette smoking. To reduce smoking prevalence in the former Yugoslav republics and other developing countries, rigorous antismoking measures may effectively reduce smoking prevalence and contribute to better health of their citizens.
Pluzarev
O
O
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois, USA.
Igić
R
R