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Social and Behavioral Correlates of Cigarette Smoking among Mid-Atlantic Latino Primary Care Patients

¹ Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas; ² Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Control Program, Georgetown University Medical Center, and ³ Spanish Catholic Center, Washington, District of Columbia

Requests for reprints: Lisa S. Cox, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, MS 1008, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160. Phone: 913-588-2643; Fax: 913-588-2780. E-mail: LCox{at}kumc.edu

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death for the U.S. Hispanic population. The goal of this study was to identify social and behavioral correlates of smoking behavior among urban, multiethnic Latino primary care patients seen in community clinics. Spanish-language interviews were completed with 141 current smokers and 158 former and nonsmokers. Twenty countries of origin were represented. Eighty-three percent of participants were from Central or South America and 71% spoke primarily Spanish. Current smokers were more likely than nonsmokers or former smokers to originate from South America (38% versus 26%) and to be single (63% versus 42%). Current smokers also were more likely to use alcohol on a regular basis (59% versus 31%) and to experience daily symptoms of depression (29% versus 19%). Logistic regression analysis suggested a moderating effect of depression on the relationship between alcohol use and smoking, such that current users of alcohol who reported depression were more likely to smoke (82%) than were current users of alcohol who did not report depression (56%). As both social and behavioral factors were uniquely associated with smoking, country of origin, marital status, and comorbid alcohol use and depression should be considered in designing and implementing tobacco control interventions targeted to this community.

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