Tobacco Use Among School Adolescents: National Sociodemographic Risk Profiles

Abstract:
This article examines sociodemographic risk and smoking and smokeless tobacco use among a national sample of school-based adolescents who participated in the 1993 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey. Findings show that six sociodemographic factors (age, gender, ethnicity, income, type of urban area, and region) were significantly associated with cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use. The article showed that 30% of adolescents in school, aged 12 to 18, had initiated smoking and 12.6% had tried or were using smokeless tobacco products. Of all smokeless tobacco users, 71.5% were also regular smokers or experimental smokers. This article highlights the need to provide comprehensive tobacco use prevention programs that focus on both cigarette and smokeless tobacco use among school adolescents.

Author(s): WANG, Min Qi; FITZHUGH, Eugene; EDDY, James; WESTERFIELD, R. Carl; FU, Qiang

Publication: Journal of Health Education


Date Published: 5/1/1998

Pages: 5

Location Code: 19072