Open AccessSlowing the Epidemic of Tobacco Use Among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Author(s) -
Rod Lew,
Sora Park Tanjasiri
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.93.5.764
Subject(s) - pacific islanders , tobacco control , medicine , environmental health , population , mainstream , tobacco use , tobacco industry , demography , gerontology , public health , political science , sociology , pathology , law , nursing
Data on tobacco use among the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) population remain limited, although existing studies indicate that tobacco use prevalence among males from specific AAPI groups is significantly higher than in the general US male population. This high prevalence of tobacco use and the disparities in use result from social norms, targeted marketing by the tobacco industry, lack of culturally and linguistically tailored prevention and control programs, and limited impact of mainstream tobacco control programs for AAPIs. We review the available literature on tobacco use among AAPI men and women, highlight a national agenda that promotes tobacco prevention and control for AAPI communities, and acknowledge recent trends including the increase of tobacco use among AAPI women and girls.