Hispanic Smoking Habits — Existing surveys of smoking behaviors among various demographics in the United States (U.S.) have previously failed to consider diversity within the Hispanic/Latino population; to address this knowledge gap, Dr. Robert Kaplan and collaborators from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) surveyed more than 16,000 Hispanic/Latino adults residing in four urban regions to gain insights of smoking behaviors based on age, gender, national background, and socioeconomic factors. They found that smoking is highest among Puerto Ricans and Cubans, and lowest among Dominicans, and that men are more likely to smoke than women. Smoking rates were found to be higher among individuals of lower socioeconomic status, who also were less likely to seek out over-the-counter quit aids. These findings may aid development of targeted programs to prevent or aid smoking cessation among Hispanic/Latino Americans. The article is published in the April 8, 2014 issue of the Journal of Preventative Medicine. Dr. Kaplan is professor of epidemiology & population health, and is the Dorothy and William Manealoff Foundation and Molly Rosen Chair in Social Medicine.
Posted on: Thursday, April 17, 2014